The Minister of Ports and Shipping warns that if the Hambantota dock workers do not report to work by 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, they will be considered as those who left the service.
A court order was also issued against the demonstrating dock workers today.
The Hambantota Magistrate’s Court issued an order containing seven conditions, ordering the dock workers to refrain from disrupting port activities. The group continued demonstrating for the eighth consecutive day today, Wednesday, December 14.
Court issued the order following a request made by the Hambantota Police.
The order notes that none of the main gates of the port should be obstructed, adding that operations of incoming vessels must not be hindered. The order also goes onto state that port property must not be damaged.
The demonstrators have decided to continue with the strike action in compliance with the court order, and equipment of a private company being held by them were returned to the authorities.
The Assistant Labour Commissioner of Hambantota met with the demonstrators today.
Our correspondent reported that several MPs and local government representatives supported the strike action.The Sri Lanka Navy provided services to the vessel that anchored at the port today.
Police, the Special Task Force and Port Authority Security were deployed for the security of the port premises and notices were also put up this afternoon.
Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga also told reporters that some shipping lines have named the Hambantota port as a “risk plus” port, following the seizure of a foreign merchant vessel by protesting dock workers.
Ranatunga, who stopped short of naming the shipping lines, said the government has been in talks with them to continue roll on, roll off operations at Hambantota, as planned.
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