Major one-day strike underway; several services crippled

The PMD said despite the strike, BOC General Manager Russel Fonseka has confirmed that 265 branches including the Head Office and all divisions are operating while People’s Bank Acting CEO Clive Fonseka has confirmed that 272 branches out of the 340 are fully functional with attendance reported at over 75 percent. 

Over 40 trade unions representing banking, health, and education sectors as well as ports, electricity, postal, railway, and water board have launched a major one-day strike against the government’s tax policy and over a number of demands.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said doctors will stay away from daily duties in state hospitals island-wide except for emergency services and specialized hospitals.

Its Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge said there was a positive response from last night’s meeting with top government officials, however, there was not much assurance to stop today’s trade union action. On Monday, doctors were on strike in the Western province and yesterday in another five provinces causing inconvenience, especially to those visiting monthly clinics and OPDs.

He said today’s trade union action demanding the removal of the high PAYE tax will have a major impact on the country’s health system.

President of Government Medical Laboratory Technologists’ Association Ravi Kumudesh said they too will join the strike demanding the government an Rs.20,000 cost of living allowance for all state sector employees.

The Electricity Board Union said their employees will report sick today. Telecom employees too will extend their support to the trade union action by reporting sick. 

Attending breakdown and repairs, issuing of bills, customer service at offices will not take place today, said Upali Ratnayake of Water Board's joint trade union alliance. They will take part in a protest march outside the head office in Ratmalana at noon today. 

Bank of Ceylon employees’ union said all employees in state banks will not report to duty causing a heavy loss to the state bank system.

Channa Dissanayake of the Bank of Ceylon union said if the government is unable to reduce taxes, a cost-of-living allowance or a relief payment to all employees should be made immediately.

Meanwhile, employees of the Port Authority will join the strike demanding the removal of taxes and reducing of interest rates on loans, as well as holding elections without delay.

“All import and export processing work in the ports will come to a complete halt today resulting in a major income loss to the Authority,” said Udeni Kaluthanthri of the ports employees union.

All term tests and evaluations to be held in schools were postponed after unions representing teachers and principals announced they would join today’s strike by not reporting to work.

“Until our salary anomaly is solved, we demand the government to provide a cost of living allowance of Rs.20,000 and to reduce interest rates on loans,” Joseph Stalin of Ceylon Teachers Union told Timesonline.

Attendance of students too had shown a sharp drop in schools.

University lecturers too will take part in today’s trade union action. Prof. Shyama Banneheka of the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) said the discussion with the President's Secretary and Finance Ministry Secretary last night ended on a positive note, however, it is insufficient to stop today’s trade union action.

Despite postal service being declared as essential on Monday, postal unions will join today's strike, said convenor of the postal union Chinthaka Bandara.

Railway unions said they would go on strike today with many railway stations deserted and some even closed. 

The President’s office quoting the Railway General Manager said 20 office trains had operated by 8.00 a.m. today morning. Police and military personnel were deployed at major railway stations. 

All leave of all railway employees was cancelled yesterday with immediate effect.

Both the Sri Lanka Transport Board and Private Bus Owners Association have assured the deployment of buses as usual without any impact from today’s strike.

Pix by M.A Pushpakumara and Akila Jayawardena