Over 1,000 unions would join today’s strike, to pressure President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the government to resign, Ravi Kumudesh of the Collective of Trade Unions and Mass Organisations said, adding that the striking unions were from the state, semi-government and private sectors.

“If the President and the government do not listen to the people and resign in a week, these unions will commence a continuous strike. The President and the government need to understand that they no longer have any legitimacy. They need to resign and hand over power to those who have the confidence of the people,” Kumudesh said.

Unions that represented the education, transport, estates, ports, electricity, banks, post, Samurdhi officers, development officers and the factories would join the strike, he added Unions had organised protests across the country in all major towns, he said.

Kumudesh said Health workers would not join the strike but they would wear black today in protest. “However, they too will protest opposite their workplaces between 12 noon and 2 pm. Others will gather opposite the Fort railway station, the Lipton Circus and several other locations at noon. Then they will march to the Galle Face Green,” he said.

Meanwhile the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) would support the strike by holding a series of protests across the country, GMOA Secretary, Dr. Senal Fernando said.

“The doctors won’t go on strike. But they will protest in solidarity with the other unions. If the government is not ready to listen to the people, we too will launch a strike,” he warned.

Rathindra Kuruwita

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