The Sri Lanka Railway Guards’ Union has called off a strike that was scheduled for Wednesday, allowing passenger train services to operate as normal and averting fresh disruption for commuters.
The cancellation was reached after a meeting between union representatives and the Private Secretary to the Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Ada Derana reported. Both sides agreed that an investigation into the incident at the centre of the dispute would be carried out within 48 hours, with a decision issued thereafter.
Although passenger trains will run as scheduled, the union said it has withdrawn from freight train operations. Cargo movements on the rail network are therefore expected to remain affected while the inquiry proceeds.
The strike notice had been issued late on June 9 and triggered concern among commuters in the Colombo suburban belt, where rail capacity remains constrained after the Cyclone Ditwah recovery works on the upcountry and Kandy lines. Sri Lanka Railways has been rolling out service upgrades in recent weeks, including an online season-ticket platform launched on Tuesday under Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena.
The union has not disclosed the nature of the original incident that triggered the strike threat. The 48-hour investigation window means a formal decision is expected by Friday.
