Protests in major cities today (28) demanding the immediate departure of the Sri Lankan President and the government coincided with the mass strike staged by hundreds of trade unions nationwide calling for the government to resign.
The work at many state and private institutions was disrupted due to the strikes launched by nearly a thousand trade unions demanding the resignation of the President and the government.
The striking unions staged protests and demonstrations in several major cities around the country. More than 1,000 protests took place in Matara, Kurunegala, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Chilaw, Kegalle and Gampaha, as well as major cities and other cities across the country, including Katunayake and Koggala, where investment promotion zones are located.
According to reports, largest ever crowds gathered today in Matara, Kurunegala, Kandy and Anuradhapura, the centers of protests, at various troubled times in the country.
A protest march started this morning from the Fort Railway Station with the participation of several trade unions and proceeded to the Galle Face People’s Struggle Grounds. Protesters chanted slogans against the government.
Hundreds of employees from state banks, clad in black and carrying black flags, also joined other bank trade unions in the protest march to the Galle Face.
Ravi Kumudesh, the co-convener of the trade unions and mass organizations who joined the protest, said that if the government does not listen to the voice of the people, a continuous trade union action will be taken in another seven days.
Many businesses in Pettah and other parts of the island were closed. Private bus and train services were also significantly reduced today due to bus and train workers supporting the strike.
Many schools in the island were closed as teachers and principals joined the mass strike. Even the officers of the Sri Lanka Administrative Services (SLAS) joined the strike.
Dhammika Muthugala, Vice President of the Sri Lanka Administrative Services Union said that about 1200 officers of the Administrative Service took leave and participated in a silent protest at Independence Square in Colombo in support of the strike launched by the trade unions against the government.
Mr. Muthugala said that the officers of the Administrative Service in the Departments of Immigration and Emigration, Pensions, Registration of Persons and Motor Traffic were not on leave to prevent the public from being inconvenienced. He said the government should listen to the protesters.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
