THE Sri Lankan government has announced that it has temporarily suspended the implementation of the proposed private sector pension scheme which was opposed by mass strike actions of up to 60,000 garment workers in the Katunayake free trade zone.
The announcement came as the Joint Trade Union Alliance, comprising 26 trade unions, organised a strike action in protest at the attacks that have been made on the garment workers by riot police.
Amongst the trade unions are the powerful Lanka Bank Employees Union, the Ceylon Mercantile Union and the Free Trade Zone General Employees Union.
At midday yesterday, the alliance held a mass rally in front of the Colombo Fort railway station to protest against the police attacks on Free Trade Zone workers.
The Joint Trade Union Alliance says that it has also taken measures to file a fundamental rights petition against the assaults that took place.
The alliance further demanded the unconditional release of the arrested employees without any further reprisals against them.
Many workers were injured in the police attacks and it is being reported that three workers have died of their injuries.
