Sri Lanka Police visit houses of trade union leaders before strike

Sources from Sri Lanka's Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) say that police have visited the houses of leaders of trade unions affiliated with the party.

JVP MP and the Chairman of National Trade Union Center (NTUC) K.D. Lal Kantha said that police have asked the trade union leaders to come to the police stations to discuss the one day token strike scheduled for tomorrow. Mr. Kantha said that the unions had no business with the police and the workers' right to strike is protected by the Constitution. He further said that the only way to avoid the strike is to grant the demands being made.

The NTUC is the main convener of the strike, while the National Workers' Union (JSS), affiliated with the major opposition United National Party (UNP), and many other powerful trade unions have pledged their support.

The main demands of the strikers are a Rs. 5000 pay hike plus cost of living allowance and a decrease in bus and railway fares.