COLOMBO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's public transportation sector was plunged into a crisis as an islandwide train strike continued into its third day on Friday, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and depending on other modes of transportation.

The sudden strike was launched on Wednesday afternoon by trade unions from the Sri Lanka Railways Department, who are demanding higher salaries and better facilities for railway workers.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in a statement on Thursday urged the strikers to end their strike action and called on them to hold discussions with the government.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, whilst condemning the sudden strike, said the government had increased the number of government buses on the road and the army had been called in to operate special buses especially for students who were sitting for their Advanced Level examinations.

The minister urged the railway trade unions to end the strike before holding discussions with the government.

A trade union official from the Sri Lanka Railways Department told Xinhua, the ongoing strike would continue till the government accepted their demands.?