The Sri Lanka Railways has been directed to re-hire staffers who retired on 31 December on a contract basis given the crisis that has occurred in the department as a result of the mass retirement. The Department said the directive was issued by the President's Secretariat.

However, the unions have said staff may not choose to be re-hired on a contract basis as our employees who worked on a contract basis for one and a half years have been dismissed without payment after the department failed to obtain the necessary approvals.

Given the issues, the Unions have said they will launch a strike on 9 January in protest if the staffing issues are not resolved by the authorities.

At least 36 trains were cancelled today due to the lack of staff. The Railway unions said the issue is unlikely to be resolved until the staffing shortage is addressed. In fact, the unions said the situation will further intensify tomorrow and more than 60 train journeys may have to be cancelled. At least 500 staff retired at the end of 2022.