Commuters Repay Sri Lanka Railways: Passengers Purchase Extra Tickets Following Strike Action
Passengers who traveled free of charge during the recent railway trade union strike due to ticket counter closures are now purchasing additional tickets to cover their unpaid fares from those days.
The trend gained momentum after a young commuter posted on Facebook showing that he bought an extra ticket today (21) to compensate for his free ride during the strike period. The gesture has since sparked a growing movement across social media.
During the strike on September 17 and 18, the Railway Department allowed passengers to travel without tickets to minimize public transport disruption. However, the two-day strike resulted in significant revenue losses for the government and the department.
Posting on the “RDMNS Railway Social Network” Facebook group, the youth wrote:
“I traveled for free on the day of the strike… So today I bought two tickets. I simply fulfilled my responsibility as a citizen.”
Beyond the financial value of individual fares, observers highlight this initiative as a remarkable display of civic responsibility and a positive shift in public mindset, demonstrating how citizens actively contribute to state discipline and ethical governance.
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