News
JVP unions to assess govt. response before taking next step
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The JVP does not support a continuous strike at this juncture, JVP trade union leader Lal Kantha, says.
However, the JVP fully backed the union action today, he said, adding that those involved in the strike must assess the government’s response and then decide on their next move.
“We can take further trade union action, based on the government’s response,” he said.
Around 50 unions are protesting against the new tax regime.
At a time when inflation, and interest rates had reached historic highs, it was unfair for the government to increase direct taxes, too, Lal Kantha said.
“Don’t forget that the government increased indirect taxes, last year,” he said.
Cabinet spokesman, Bandula Gunawardane said the proposed trade union action today was bound to fail and legal action would be taken against the employees in essential services if they joined the strike.
Addressing the Cabinet press briefing, Minister Gunawardena said:
“We will get IMF funding on 20 March and things are getting better. We have declared transport, ports, posts, electricity, etc., as essential services. We will take legal action against anyone who violates the laws,” he said.
After the Minister made this announcement, the Central Bank Trade Union Alliance, too, said it would stage a country-wide token strike today, organised by the Professional Trade Union Alliance (PUTA). The CBSL unions said that activities of the Employees’ Provident Fund Department, cash counters and Regional Offices would be disrupted.
Earlier the Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Association announced that it would launch a 24-hour strike from midnight of 14 March.
The representatives of PUTA met senior government officials, Monday night, to find a solution to their grievances. The meeting ended without a decision.
“The officials said they would present an analytical report to the President, by Tuesday morning. We asked them to inform the President that he must make a political statement on this, on Tuesday. There was no final solution,” said GMOA secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge.
The GMOA resorted to trade union action for the second day in North-Western, North-Central, North, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces.
“From 9 am on Wednesday, we will expand the strike to all nine provinces. The country will shut down on 15 March. The responsibility of resolving the issue lies with the government. We hope that it will resolve the issue,” GMOA Media Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said.
The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU), and unions in the Port Authority, commenced their union action yesterday.
Teachers, bank workers, water board employees, health support staff, and most unions of the Railway Department, too, said they would trade union action from midnight yesterday. Teachers and principals unions said that some schools were having exams and they would take steps to reschedule them.
The government yesterday issued a gazette declaring postal service an essential service. However, postal sector unions said their decision to take union action would not change because of the gazette. The unions would go on strike from midnight Tuesday and none of the post offices in the country would be operational today, the unions said.
Latest News
Heat Index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the North-central and Eastern provinces and in Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts during the daytime
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 08 May 2026, valid for 09 May 2026
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the North-central and Eastern provinces and in Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts during the daytime
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on the human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
News
SLPP expresses concern over death of former SriLankan CEO
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam, yesterday raised serious concerns over the death of former SriLankan Airlines CEO, Kapila Chandrasena, questioning whether the incident was a suicide, murder, or a case of being compelled to take his own life.
Addressing the media, Kariyawasam claimed that Chandrasena had recently become a controversial figure after allegedly submitting an affidavit to court detailing threats made against him.
According to Kariyawasam, the affidavit stated that Chandrasena had been taken to the office of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), where he was allegedly threatened by its Director General, Ranga Dissanayake.
Kariyawasam alleged that Chandrasena had claimed he was warned to comply with certain demands or face consequences similar to those experienced by another individual, linked to a case involving former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
He also claimed that Chandrasena’s affidavit referred to alleged attempts to implicate former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and MP Namal Rajapaksa in legal proceedings.
Kariyawasam questioned how Chandrasena, who had reportedly been in remand custody, was able to secure two bail guarantors, and called for an immediate investigation into who introduced the guarantors and whether any prison or CIABOC officials had been involved.
He urged the courts to examine CCTV footage and conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the provision of the guarantors.
Claiming that public suspicion surrounding the death was growing, Kariyawasam said the incident could not be dismissed as a straightforward suicide.
He alleged that several recent incidents involving complainants and suspects had raised broader concerns over the rule of law and the protection of suspects’ rights in the country.
Calling for an independent investigation, Kariyawasam urged authorities to disclose the truth to the public, stressing that even suspects are entitled to legal safeguards and protections in a democratic society.
News
SC orders fresh notice on Gotabaya in compensation case
The Supreme Court yesterday directed the petitioning party to take steps to reissue notice to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has been named as a respondent in a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition.
The petition had been filed seeking an order to recover compensation funds allegedly paid unlawfully to former Ministers and Members of Parliament whose houses were set on fire or damaged during the countrywide violence that erupted following the purported attack on the “Aragalaya” protest site on May 9, 2022.
The Supreme Court issued this order during the hearing of the Fundamental Rights petition, which was filed seeking a declaration that the payment of such compensation was unlawful.
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