An island wide hartal is being held today (06) demanding the immediate resignation of the government.
The hartal is being held with the participation of more than a thousand trade unions in the state, semi-state and private sectors.
This has affected the activities of many sectors including education, transport, estates, public sector as well as health.
Co-convener of the Trade Union Coordinating Center Wasantha Samarasinghe said that all Sri Lankans were requested to join the hartal.
The hartal has severely affected the transport sector.
Private bus owners and railway workers went on strike in support of the hartal from midnight yesterday.
Co-convener of the Railway Trade Union Alliance P. Mr. Vithanage stated that many railway employees have left their workplaces.
However, SLTB buses will be operating normally today, said its chairman Kingsley Ranawaka.
Meanwhile, a number of health trade unions have also expressed support for the hartal today.
The Secretary of the All Ceylon Medical Officers’ Association Dr. Jayantha Bandara stated that his association will resign today and support the Hartal.
Many nurses are also on strike today.
Meanwhile, a number of paramedical and paramedical professionals have joined the hartal today.
Public health inspectors are among them.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stated that it will support the hartal by organizing protests in front of hospitals this afternoon.
Due to the Hartal, school activities are not functioning properly today.
President of the All Ceylon School Child Transport Association Mal Shree de Silva said that school children are withdrawing from transport today.
Grama Niladharis also support the hartal, said Sumith Kodikara, President of the Sri Lanka Grama Niladhari Association.
Meanwhile, banking activities have been disrupted due to the hartal.
The unions say that in parallel to the hartal, protests have been organized in several areas, including Colombo, demanding the immediate resignation of the government.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner General of Registration of Persons Viani Goonetileke said that all public services, including the one day service, are not operational today.
The Commissioner General of Registration of Persons stated that the action was taken due to the notification that the internal staff of the Department of Registration of Persons would not report for duty in support of the Public Officers’ Trade Union Hartal.
Applicants who have booked an appointment for the one-day service can come to the one-day service on any other day of government service, he added.
Meanwhile, the Department of Immigration and Emigration said that all public services, including the one-day passport issuance service, are not operational today.
The Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration Officers’ Association (SLIEA) has announced that its members will be retiring from Immigration and Emigration duties at the VIP Terminal for Sri Lankan dignitaries at all airports in the country, including Katunayake International Airport, from midnight yesterday.
Those rulers are protesting against not providing definite solutions to the current problem.
In addition, they have decided to withdraw from the Silk Road passenger clearing for special care and passengers.
