Upcountry estate workers stage a token strike

By Ranjith Rajapakse and Shantha Chandrasiri 
Estate workers in the upcountry yesterday staged a token strike with several demands including a wage increase in keeping with the cost of living. Their main demand was a minimum daily wage of Rs.1700.
They accused the Estate Companies of ignoring President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s instructions to increase the wages up to Rs.1700 per day.
The trade union action was organised by the Ceylon Workers’ Congress with the help of several other trade unions.
Business establishments in Hatton, Kotagala, Bagawanthalawa Dikoya and Maskeliya towns had put up shutters to extend support to the strike.
Estate workers pointed out that the plantation companies earned massive profits but ignored the President’s instructions to increase wages.