brand logo

Station Masters’ protest actions to continue

27 Dec 2021

  • Union notes positive response from Pavithra/Dilum but apathy from Railways management
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Railway station masters are currently engaged in a number of trade union actions demanding that the Railways Department and Railways General Manager (GM) Dhammika Jayasundara provide solutions to several issues which directly affect station masters and passengers, according to the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU). When contacted by The Morning yesterday (27), SLRSMU General Secretary Kasun Chamara claimed that although Minister of Transport Pavithra Wanniarachchi and State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments, and Motor Car Industry Dilum Amunugama had positively intervened to resolve the issues affecting station masters and passengers, the Jayasundara-led Railways management does not seem to be interested in resolving the said issues. “We, the SLRSMU, met Jayasundara and all other senior officials and discussed these issues yesterday, but those talks were a complete failure. Jayasundara is now acting as required by two corrupt trade union leaders accused of audit-related charges and he is not performing any other duty other than trying to defend his position,” he alleged. The issues include station masters’ promotion-related issues as well as the failure of the Railways Department to rectify faults in railway signal systems and to repair decrepit train compartments. In protest over Jayasundara’s alleged conduct, Chamara said that station masters islandwide have decided to withdraw from duties pertaining to parcel transportation, the issuance of train tickets, and the reservation of rest rooms and resorts belonging to the Railways Department. He also said that station masters have decided to withdraw from duties pertaining to transporting oil, flour to Prima Ceylon (Pvt.) Ltd., and limestone to the Holcim cement factory. Noting that the trade union actions have been launched in a way that would not cause inconvenience to railway passengers, he said that Jayasundara should be held directly responsible for the loss to the Railways Department and the disrepute caused to the Government through trade union actions. Several attempts to contact Jayasundara proved futile. Railway station masters withdrew from all parcel transport services from 23 December in protest over the cancellation of several trains transporting parcels without prior notice. In addition, they withdrew from duties pertaining to the issuance of train tickets from 24 December. Speaking to The Morning on 22 December, Chamara said the Railways Department has taken steps to cancel several trains carrying parcels without any prior notice. As a result, he claimed that more than 4,000 parcels have been collected at railway stations and that consumers have been greatly inconvenienced. “Several parcel transport trains were cancelled at once for no apparent reason. Parcels containing food items have been spoiled now. Incidents like this undermine the trust that consumers have in the Department,” he charged. Meanwhile, he claimed that more than 100 modern train compartments imported from India have been left unused at several locations. “In protest over this, we have decided to withdraw from duties pertaining to issuing train tickets,” he said.


More News..