NE, Talawakele shut down in protest

Estate Sector workers in Talawakele and Nuwara Eliya area yesterday staged a protest demanding an immediate salary increase.

They demanded a basic salary of Rs.1000 per day to meet the increasing cost of living.

Meanwhile, all shops and business establishments in the Talawakele and Nuwara Eliya towns put up shutters to support the protest.

“Nuwara Eliya and Talawakele looked like ghost towns due to the closure of hotels, private banks, boutiques and shops and even the branches of several State banks. The trishaw drivers were flying flags in their vehicles as a mark of solidarity with the estate workers,” a source said.

“People were facing hardship due to the closure of business establishments and the crippled public transport services,” the source said.