Engine drivers' strike disrupts SL train service

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 10:22 GMT]
The train service in Sri Lanka came to a standstill Thursday with the strike of engine drivers entering the second day. No passenger or goods train left from Fort Railway Station in Colombo Thursday morning. The strike began Wednesday night after the Transport Minister failed to provide satisfactory response to the demand for a new salary scheme and a name change for engine drivers, trade union sources said.

Prime Minister Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse has invited leaders of Railway Trade Unions for an urgent conference Thursday evening to find a solution for the demands put forward by them, sources said.

Meanwhile, railway authorities said engine drivers had begun the protest without any advance notice while their trade union leaders were holding talks with the Transport Minister on Tuesday, sources said.

The All Ceylon Railway Employees General Union has warned that the strike will continue until its demands are met, sources said

Thousands of commuters especially government and private sector workers in the south were inconvenienced due to the disruption of train services, sources said