The Department of Government Information has announced that commuters can purchase train tickets online amid the ongoing 48-hour token strike by railway trade unions.
Tickets can be purchased through www.pravesha.lk or the Pravesha mobile application, the Department said.
Passengers are required to enter their journey details and make the payment using a credit or debit card. The e-ticket will then be delivered via SMS or email, and its QR code must be scanned for validation at the railway station and aboard the train.
The online facility comes after ticket counters at several railway stations stopped issuing tickets due to the strike launched by the Railway Joint Trade Union Alliance.
The 48-hour strike began at midnight on 16 September, with the participation of 29 trade unions, including the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Association, Railway Employees’ Association, Sri Lanka Unprotected Railway Crossing Gatekeepers’ Association and Railway Security Officers’ Association.
The unions are demanding the immediate removal of the General Manager of Railways, alleging that he has acted arbitrarily and failed to address employees’ grievances.
Despite the strike, trains were operating as usual on Thursday (17), while the Railway Department said scheduled services would continue during the morning and evening.
The Station Masters’ Association warned that the trade union action would be intensified unless the authorities provided solutions to the issues raised.
