Sri Lanka Protest: Nationwide strike against hike in tax rates in Sri Lanka, life disrupted

Sri Lankan trade unions called for a nationwide strike on Wednesday to protest against the hike in tax and utility rates by the government. Due to this normal life got disturbed. Along with this, the services of major sectors like banking, airport, and port were also disrupted.

a nationwide strike in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President had increased the tax rates to improve the situation in the country, due to which the trade unions requested the government to withdraw this order. However, the President did not withdraw his order to hike TRAX rates.

work affected by the strike

Trade unions said that we have called a strike from 7 am till 7 am tomorrow. Channa Dissanayake, an official of the bank employees' trade union, said work in two state-run banks, including the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, stopped on Wednesday.

Teachers protested by tying black bands

Teachers' trade union spokesman Joseph Stalin said the teachers protested the government's move by donning black armbands, while Charuka Ilangsinha of the University Teachers' Federation said they would resort to a strike until the government rolled back the tax hike.

Notably, President Wickremesinghe raised corporate taxes from 24 percent to 30 percent, but the government started increasing taxes with effect from January. Regarding this, President Wickremesinghe had said that increasing taxes was a necessary step to overcome the current economic crisis.

Trade unions allege that the tax revision is meant to appease the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as Sri Lanka awaits approval from the IMF for a $2.9 billion bailout package. Ranjan Jailal of the trade union of electricity employees had said that we will go on strike against the hike in tax rates, as already planned.

Also Read: Sri Lanka: Crisis on democracy due to lack of funds, issue of postponement of local elections in Sri Lanka heats up