Sri Lanka Railways Forum

The Railway Minister’s failure to appoint a General Manager (Administration) and the Operations Officer to Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) has resulted in poor management in the railway department, Organisation for Protection of Properties and the Rights of Railway Employees (OPPRRE) said.

Convener, OPPRRE, Sumathipala Manawadu, while accusing Railway Minister, Dullas Alahapperuma for not appointing suitable officers to important posts in the SLR told The Morning Leader yesterday that all administrative functions have almost come to a standstill due to the non availability of a GM, Administration.

“The former GMA left SLR as he could not handle administration due to undue pressure from the minister and the General Manager, Railways (GMR),” added Manawadu.

According to Manawadu, decisions taken by the GMR and the management are impractical and inappropriate for the smooth functioning of the railway. “When Minister Alahapperuma and the GMR were appointed in early 2007, not only the trade unions but also the railway employees were expecting a positive change in the railway but to no avail. The situation at SLR has deteriorated compared to the situation during the former management,” said Manawadu.

Meanwhile, he added that the government’s failure to grant property and distress loans have irked the employees. “Apart from the failure to address the needs of those who are entitled to distress and property loans the Railway Ministry’s decision to discontinue the mutual transfer system that prevailed in the department for decades have upset the employees,” said Manawadu.

Accusing the Railway Ministry for taking stern action against those who have committed minor offences when the government has so far failed to punish the big wigs who have robbed millions of SLR money, Manawadu said that the trade unions would not tolerate these malpractice any longer.

“As trade union activists we want justice to prevail. We are not against sacking employees who have committed minor offences but first they should remove the big wigs who robbed public funds. Failing to do so would result in us resorting to trade union action,” stated Manawadu.

By Nirmala Kannangara

Source: The Morning Leader