700,000 commuters inconvenienced :

Rail strike incurs Rs 10 million loss

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Over 700,000 commuters from all parts of the country were prevented from travelling to the Colombo Fort and Maradana railway stations due to the rail strike on Friday.

The Railway Department incurred a Rs. 10 million loss following the 24-hour strike launched by members of 10 trade unions of the Professional Trade Union Alliance (PTUA) of the Department. The one-day strike stranded at least 70 percent office workers employed in state and private sector offices in Colombo and suburban areas over the salary anomalies of railway workers.

Railways Commercial Superintendent, G.W.S. Sisira Kumara told the Sunday Observer that only 14 trains operated out of 330 on Friday.

He said two trains were operated on each main line from Colombo during the morning and evening peak hours for office workers.

The train strike also affected over 15,000 schoolchildren. Friday was the last day of the beginning of the third term school vacation.

CTB and private bus operators were adversely affected due to the railway strike since 70 percent of the daily commuters, especially office workers travel by train to Colombo due to the short travelling time duration and low fare.

Most offices in Colombo reported that many workers who travel to Colombo by train from remote areas had not turned up for duty on Friday due to the rail strike.