Sri Lanka, Sept. 17 -- Sri Lanka's railway trade unions launched a 48-hour token strike at midnight yesterday (16), after talks with the Government failed to resolve their demand for the removal of Railway General Manager Ravindra Pathmapriya.

Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake has said he cannot agree to the unions' demand, leaving the main dispute unresolved ahead of the planned strike.

The industrial action, involving a large number of railway trade unions, is expected to disrupt train services across the country. The unions say they have lost confidence in the administration of the current General Manager and are calling for his immediate removal.

The unions had initially announced the strike based...