Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation Ashok Abeysinghe stated that the Railway service will be declared as an essential service should the current Railway Trade Union protests continue. It has been reported that Railway Department personnel have been granted a period of one-hour to disband the protests.  

Railway trade unions staged a protest yesterday (11) as government officials failed to respond to their demands. 

Engine drivers and railway guards had launched a strike based on several demands. 

All trains starting from Colombo Fort and Maradana were cancelled due to the strike leading to a disruption in train services from Colombo.

A tense situation was also reported at the Fort Railway Station as commuters vented their anger in protest over the sudden cancellation and train delays.
They had reportedly caused damages to property at the train station and also stormed the office of the officer in charge of the station. 

According to reports, police teams were deployed to Fort and Maradana railway station to maintain order. 

Accordingly the Deputy Minister stated that all Railway Department personnel will be granted a period of one hour to halt the current protest and return to their posts. He further stated that the Railway service will be deemed as an essential service should the protests continue beyond the specified one hour time period.