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by Rajmi Manatunga

The countrywide rail strike planned for today was postponed at the eleventh hour following the intervention of Transport Minister Felix Perera yesterday.

Trains will operate according to the normal schedule today.

Technical workers, technical assistants, assistant engine drivers, shunting drivers and railway pointsmen were to join today's one-day strike urging authorities to resolve their salary anomalies immediately. Co-convenor of the United Alliance of Railway Trade Unions Sarath Fernando told the Daily News that they had a discussion with the Railway authorities yesterday where it was agreed to hold back the strike for one more day pending a solution to the workers' problems.

"Last month we called off our trade union action after the Transport Minister pledged to address our salary anomalies within two weeks. Though the two weeks have elapsed our salary and increment problems remain unresolved," he said. Fernando said that the strike was suspended following a request by Transport Minister Felix Perera who was out of Colombo yesterday.

"The Minister promised to hold a discussion with the unions today (15th) to address our problems.

The Ministry Secretary and the General Manager of Railways will also participate," he added.

However, he warned that if today's discussions with the Minister turn out to be unsatisfactory they will resort to an islandwide strike immediately.

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