With a history spanning over 165 years, the Sri Lanka Railways service operates through the collective efforts of officers holding various critical roles. Until now, positions such as train engine driver, train controller, and station master have been exclusively filled by male officers since the department’s inception. Female officers were previously recruited only for the role of railway supervision manager, in 2012 and 2015.
In line with the government’s new economic policies—which encourage the inclusion of women in state sector roles previously limited to men—steps are being taken to provide opportunities for female recruitment across various public institutions.
Accordingly, the proposal presented by the Acting Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development was taken into consideration. Since the current recruitment scheme does not include provisions for female officers in these categories, the Cabinet, under the powers vested by Article 55(1) of the Constitution, has decided to grant policy approval to recruit women for the positions of train engine driver, train controller, station master, and railway supervision manager within the Sri Lanka Railways Department.
