Locomotive operators to launch a strike at midnight

2026-02-17 - 16:27

A group of Sri Lanka Railway locomotive operators have announced they will launch a strike from midnight today (Feb. 17). The decision was taken in protest against a move to begin training a group of military officers as train drivers, during a meeting held for newly recruited trainee train drivers. The drivers had opposed the decision to include the proposed military officers in the training program. As lengthy discussions held at the Ministry of Transport regarding the matter were unsuccessful, an executive committee meeting of the Locomotive Operating Engineers Union had convened this evening. Subsequently, it had been decided to withdraw from train services starting from midnight today.