COLOMBO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of passengers were stranded when railway trade unions launched a strike across the island country early Friday, as part of a series of strikes launched by the trade unions since last week.
The trade unions have taken off work, demanding for higher salaries and several other demands and have urged the government to fulfill them as soon as possible.
In order to stop the sudden continuous strikes launched since last week, a special gazette notification was issued on Thursday making railways an "essential public service" on the orders of President Maithripala Sirisena.
However, despite the special gazette notification, railway trade unions went ahead with the strike since Thursday midnight, inconveniencing thousands of passengers and tourists.
General Manager of Railways Dilantha Fernando told journalists that the Department of Railways had lodged a police complaint against the trade unions for resorting to the strike despite railways being declared an essential service under a state of emergency.
Fernando said legal action would be taken against the railway workers on strike.
The government has said they would initiate further discussions with the trade unions in order to settle the issues.
