A gazette has been issued today (Oct 3) declaring railways as an essential service in the backdrop of an indefinite strike action by railway employees.
The gazette has been signed by President's Secretary Udaya Senaviratne on the orders of President Maithripala Sirisena.
The regulation had been imposed in line with the Essential Public Services Act (No. 61 of 1979), the gazette said.
According to the gazette, all required services for the functioning of the railway system must take place without any interruption. The law states that any attempt to disrupt an essential service will be considered as an offence.
Railway employees are currently engaged in an indefinite strike action citing grading and salary anomalies which entered its eigth day today.
Meanwhile, the Railways General Manager yesterday said that employees engaged in the strike without applying for sick leave for their period of absence, would be considered to have vacated their service.
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