Is the Railway Strike About Rights or Politics?
Sri Lanka Railways says it will not allow the ongoing strike launched by several trade unions to disrupt train operations, with authorities taking steps to ensure that services continue despite the industrial action. Railways General Manager Ravindra Pathmapriya stated that office trains were operated as scheduled today, while the department worked to maintain normal services across the network. The strike was launched at midnight on Wednesday (16) by the Railway Station Masters' Association, the Assistant Drivers' Association, and unions representing employees working in railway yards. The unions say the action was initiated over demands for the immediate removal of the General Manager of Railways, as well as concerns that the rights of an official attached to the Railway Station Masters' Association had been violated through a letter issued by the railway administration. Despite the strike, Railway's Transport Superintendent Asanka Samarasinghe said all office trains and school trains operated as scheduled. He explained that the department's next priority was ensuring the operation of long-distance services while maintaining safety standards. According to him, some railway stations had been closed, but trains would only be operated when authorities were satisfied that they could be run safely. The department is also making efforts to operate the remaining night mail services. The All Ceylon Railway Station Masters' Union meanwhile argued that the strike has broader implications. Its President, Pradeep Jayasuriya, acknowledged that ticket issuing activities had come to a halt and that this would result in substantial losses of public funds. He maintained, however, that responsibility for those losses should rest with the unions that had initiated what he described as an unnecessary course of action. Jayasuriya noted that the strike was launched under the theme of removing the Railway General Manager, but stressed that such a move is not something that can be carried out immediately and would in fact require a Cabinet-level decision. The Locomotive Operating Engineering Services Union described the strike as ineffective. Its Secretary, Dimuthu Edirisinghe, said there was no shortage of train drivers and that train operations were continuing as normal. He further claimed that personal agendas of certain union leaders appeared to be influencing the industrial action. Although train services largely continued, the strike resulted in ticket counters remaining closed and some railway stations being shut. According to General Manager Ravindra Pathmapriya, the suspension of ticket sales is causing losses of nearly Rs. 5 million per day. Passengers also expressed frustration. One commuter noted that people were travelling without tickets because counters were closed, arguing that the resulting loss was ultimately borne by the public since government revenue is generated from taxpayers' money. The developments have raised a wider question: is the strike genuinely about protecting workers' rights, or is it an attempt to exert pressure on authorities while disrupting public services? That debate gained further momentum due to the political backdrop surrounding some of the unions involved. On August 29, the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters' Association publicly declared its support for the position taken by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka regarding the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment. Just two days later, on August 31, the Association joined 40 other trade unions and professional organizations in signing a joint statement with the Bar Association opposing the amendment. It is against that backdrop that the current strike has unfolded. Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena argued that a Railway General Manager cannot be removed simply because a trade union demands it. He said discussions could take place if there were genuine concerns, but there was no mechanism allowing a dismissal on the basis of a strike. The Deputy Minister also pointed out that one of the unions' other demands had already been addressed. He added that only a limited number of unions had joined the industrial action and, although there had been some disruption, participation was not widespread. In his view, the action was clearly driven by political motivations rather than purely labour-related concerns. Public reaction to the strike was largely critical. Some described the action as criminal, while others accused the unions of attempting to create difficulties for the Government and inconvenience the public. Several commuters characterized the dispute as a conspiracy and warned that such disruptions undermine national development efforts. Despite the industrial action, railway authorities insist that services will continue as far as possible, with safety remaining the overriding priority. The Railway Department maintains that commuters should not face major disruption, even as the standoff between the unions and the authorities continues.
