Sri Lankan government today requested retired railway staff including engine drivers and station masters to report for duty at Railway headquarters. <br/>The surprise announcement came as strike by railway unions has crippled railway services in the country for past six days putting general public at great inconvenience. <br/><br/>The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation had earlier warned the striking workers that if they do not report to work before 12 noon today, they will be considered as vacated the service. President Maithripala Sirisena issued an extraordinary gazette on Friday announcing the railway service as an essential service. <br/><br/>However, the striking unions refused to budge without their demands being met. The unions started the strike based on a complaint about the recruitment of assistant train drivers outside the regular procedure.<br/>