At least forty Trade Unions threatened to take continuous trade union action next week, if the government failed to review tax policy and address a series of other demands including the increasing cost of living. 

Spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), Dr Chamil Wijesinghe said that they have called for an emergency general meeting to discuss the course of trade union action within the upcoming week.

He added that the Professionals Trade Union Alliance gave an ultimatum of one week until yesterday for the government to review the tax policy.

“We call on the government to provide relief on the taxes imposed recently, there should be concessions given under the PAYE tax,” he said.

He added that the professional trade union alliance has organized a series of protests and trade union actions next week and warned the authorities that they would bring the country into a stand still if their demands are not met.

 Dr Wijesinghe added that health, education, power and energy sectors and public and private service providers too would engage in trade union actions.

 He added the union alliance planned to have the peak of their trade union actions on March 15.

 The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) have already commenced their strike action calling the government to review tax policy.

Ananda Palitha, a Trade Unionist attached to the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation explained that the port trade unions, government medical officers, water bord, Ceylon electricity board as well as petroleum would strike after March 13, 2023.

 He added each day from March 13 to 15 more trade unions would take union actions. “Railway trade unions too would strike from midnight of March 14”, he added.

 He explained that if the government’s response is not positive, all the unions would carry out a national level strike on March 15, crippling every sector.   

The General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union, Joseph Starlin said that they have planned to call for a one day strike on March 15, he added that they are calling on the government to increase their salaries.