Railway strike called off

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 October 2003, 16:25 GMT]
The United Alliance of Railway Trade Unions (UARTU) Sunday evening called off their strike following successful discussions with Transport Minister Mr.Tilak Marapane. Railway Authority Chairman Mr.Hemachandra Manatunge said. Train services which had come to a standstill since Tuesday midnight would return to normal Monday morning, media sources said.

Minister Mr.Marapone and Railway Authority Chairman Mr.Manathunge held extensive discussion with the UARTU representatives regarding their demands including salary increase and granting all privileges.

Trade union representatives demanded that the new hands recruited during the strike period should be discontinued. The Government of Sri Lanka and the trade unions reached a consensus on several demands including the discontinuation of new workers recruited during strike period, sources said.

The UARTU has appealed to its members to report for work immediately, sources said.

Railway authority officials said train services would return to normal from Monday morning.