Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said railway services have been crippled in the country due to the government's inability. 

"It is the government's job to negotiate with unions and make sure that strike do not happen. In the end, it is the public that has to deal with the repercussions," he said, speaking to media yesterday. 

The former President also stated that salary anomalies had occurred as the government increased salaries of several sectors in an ad=hoc manner. 

"That is why," Rajapaksa said, "unions go on strike from time to time."

However, several spokespersons of the government have indicated there can be a 'political hand' behind the trade union action launched by railway unions last Wednesday.