Railway strike called off

Railway trade unions have called off their strike this morning after discussions with the four-member Ministerial Committee appointed to look into their grievances. 

The decision to call off the strike ends a trade union action that entered its seventh day today. The week-long strike paralyzed train services throughout the country, severely inconveniencing tens of thousands of railway commuters. 

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday (12) appointed a four-member ministerial committee headed by Minister Sarath Amunugama to look into the grievances of protesting railway workers. Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Ranjith Maddumabandara are the other members of the committee. 

President Sirisena had earlier also appealed to the railway workers to end their strike in view of the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination which commenced yesterday. 

The union launched the strike from midnight on December 6 over issues regarding the scheme of recruitment for assistant engine drivers and several other demands.  

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