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Strike over but train service still crippled
Train services continued to remain crippled yesterday despite the government and the trade unionists involved in the 11-day long strike signing an agreement to end the union action.

Director Railway Operations, G.R.P Chandratillake told The Sunday Times that yesterday they were able to operate only 16 of the 320 trains scheduled. He said that some members of trade unions had failed to return to work despite the understanding reached between the unions and the government.

On Friday Transport Minister Tilak Marapana signed an agreement with the trade union representatives under which the implementation of the Railway Authority has been delayed for two years while a Competent Authority was to be appointed to oversee the activities. According to the agreement reached amendments are to be moved to the existing Railway Authority Act.

It had also been decided to appoint a committee comprising government members and trade union representatives. Mr. Marapana told reporters after the signing of the agreement that his attempt to operate a skeleton service during the past few days was not aimed at attacking the trade unions, but to provide a service to the public.

However some of the JVP unions said that they were still studying the proposals, before taking a decision to call off the strike. Mr. Chandratillake earlier said that it would take about a week's time to bring the railway services to normal, even if the strike is fully called off. He said that checks have to be carried out on tracks, signals systems, engines and carriages before bringing back the services to normal.

Railway officials said that they could not assure that the train services could be brought back to normal by Monday as checks were being carried out on the tracks due to acts of sabotage.

Earlier the trade unions had set Monday as the deadline for the government to respond to their demands and warned that they would go on a continued fasting campaign opposite the Railway Headquarters in Maradana.

Among their demands was that none of the workers should be penalised when they return to work. They also wanted to ensure that they would reserve the right to take legal action, in the event the government fails to honour the agreement reached.

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