Railway trade unions say no special trains have been scheduled during the current school holidays, which they described as the first time this has happened, and that no discussions have been held on the maintenance work that normally has to be carried out during a vacation period.
The unions alleged that the administration of the Railway Department has been allowed to fall into disarray, creating difficulties for both railway staff and passengers, the Daily Mirror reported.
Station masters have borne the consequence directly. Because they are the grade that deals face to face with the travelling public, they have been subjected to severe criticism and verbal abuse over the shortcomings, the unions said. Railway employees said this has placed additional pressure on station masters, who are frequently forced to absorb public frustration over decisions taken well above their level.
Holidays run to September
Government schools closed for the August holidays on August 7 and are due to reopen on September 7, meaning the vacation the unions are referring to still has roughly a fortnight and a half to run. The 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination is being held across the same window, from August 10 to September 5.
Special services are a routine feature of Sri Lankan holiday travel rather than an exceptional measure. Sri Lanka Railways ran additional trains during the Avurudu season in April, on routes including Colombo Fort–Anuradhapura and Maradana–Matara, and again for Vesak on May 30 and 31 to carry pilgrims to Anuradhapura and Matara.
The complaint is the second in two days from railway labour. On Tuesday the Station Masters’ Union called for an investigation into a run of locomotive breakdowns and said the department’s General Manager should be among those examined — a separate grievance, though it rests on the same charge of administrative failure.
The Daily Mirror did not identify which unions issued Wednesday’s statement or name a spokesperson, and did not report how many special trains typically operate during a school vacation or what holiday maintenance is usually scheduled. It carried no response from the Railway Department, the General Manager or the Transport Ministry. As of Wednesday evening, no other verified Sri Lankan newsroom had published its own report of the unions’ claims.
