Strike against power hike fizzles out

A general strike called by the opposition against the rise in electricity tariffs has fizzled out, the government information department has said.
Opposition groups led by the trade unions affiliated to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) called the one-day nation-wide work stoppage against the rate hike and demanded that the government withdraws a 65 per cent increase in domestic electricity tariffs from last month.
"There was attendance better than normal in the state sector," said PB Abeykoon, an official in the ministry of public administration.
However the JVP trade union boss KD Lal Kantha said that the general strike was a success despite government attempts to sabotage it. "Most of the private sector employees did not come to work" he added.

Meanwhile, the government had also warned private bus owners that they would lose their route permits if they joined the strike.
The government said public transport operated as usual.