TRADE UNION STRIKE AT BIA CALLED OFF

The strike launched by the workers of the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday was called off last evening.

Airport Sri Lanka Freedom Party Union (ASFPU) Convener M.W.P Muhandiram said the authorities had agreed to increase the basic salary of the Airport employees by Rs. 10,000/-. Deputy Minister of Finance and Mass Media Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Ashok Abeysinghe had met the protesters yesterday evening.

Airport Sri Lanka Freedom Party Union (ASFPU) Convener M.W.P. Muhandiram said, following the discussions with the deputy ministers they had agreed to grant the union’s demand for a salary increment of Rs. 10,000/-.

According to Mr. Muhandiram the workers had reported for their usual duties soon after the strike had been called off.

“We are happy that we won our struggle and hope that the Airport would return to normal soon,” he added. Earlier in the day a tense situation was reported at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), with employees blocking all entrances to the premises, leaving hundreds of travellers stranded, after discussions between Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd and the Airport’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party Union (ASFPU) failed last morning.

Reports from the BIA said the aviation sector was operational, but ground staff had blocked roads leading to and from the airport while the three entrances to the International Airport were being obstructed by union members using backhoes and other vehicles.

The Police, Special Task Force (STF) personnel and anti-riot squads were deployed for additional security.