A number of public and private sector services will engage in a one-day token strike tomorrow. Nearly 1,000 unions from a number of sectors, including health, ports, electricity, education, and postal, will engage join strike actions demanding the resignation of the President and the current government.
University lecturers are also planning a series of protests opposite universities across the island tomorrow. Around 50 percent of hospitals and health workers will also join the strike, while services at hospital will however not be affected.
Health workers on duty will be dressed in black. Protests and marches will be held opposite all hospitals from noon tomorrow while protests have been organized in many towns.
Meanwhile, a large scale protest rally organized by the unions is scheduled to be held at noon opposite the Fort Railway Station. In addition, the trade unions are planning to march from several locations such as the Lipton Circus in Colombo to the Galle Face protest site.
Speaking during a media briefing, President of the Government Nursing Officers Association Saman Rathnapriya said the government as proven its inability to govern the country. Rathnapriya said the public, trade unions and various political groups are calling for the immediate resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government due to their shortcomings.
The President of the Association said they will engage in a two-hour protest opposite hospitals from 12noon until 2pm.
Joining the media briefing, General Secretary of the Ceylon Electricity Board Employees Union Ranjan Jayalal said they will not engage in any trade union action that will burden the public. Jayalal however said if any breakdown in the National Grid occurs within the day tomorrow, they will not attempt to reconnect services.
The General Secretary also informed consumers to refrain from paying electricity bills tomorrow as they will not accept payments. He said the government’s decision to increase electricity tariffs will further burden the public. Jayalal said CEB employees will not burden the public through trade union action tomorrow, unlike the government.
