Colombo Port strike continues for 10th day

Colombo: Trade union action at the country’s main harbour entered its 10th day Thursday, despite a court ruling to restrain striking workers.The Government urged striking workers to resume work despite union allegations that the Colombo District court order issued Wednesday is yet to reach them. Officials also dismissed union demands for higher salaries, saying port workers are some of the better paid employees in the public sector.

'It is unfair for the workers to ask for bigger salaries when a driver at the port earned around 100,000 rupees last month,' cabinet spokesman Anura Priyadharshana Yapa told reporters.

'We urge the workers to resume work at the Colombo port and continue the dialogue with relevant Government officials for a salary increment,' Yapa said.

Sri Lanka Shippers Council President Dayanath Perera said import and export trade have come to a standstill while around 30 ships berthed outside the harbour pose a security risk to the Colombo port.

'We are losing millions every day, from productivity to loss of business. We urge the government to resolve this problem quickly,' Perera said.

Productivity per gantry crane has come down to three to five containers per hour as against a normal output of 18 to 20, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said.

There is also a complete stoppage of work on extended shifts, together with a go-slow that is affecting both exports and imports, with some vessels by-passing the port.

'Around ten ships have already bypassed the port,' says Perera said, estimating the loss of revenue to be in the region of 20 million rupees each day.

Key international shipping lines have also threatened to stop calling, as the delays cost them between 60,000-70,000 dollars each day per ship, the Sri Lanka Association of Vessel Operators said.

Port delays are also not covered by insurance policies, the vessel operators' lamented.

Sri Lanka's key money spinners like clothing, tea, rubber and porcelain are among the most affected. Tea stocks are piling up in Colombo and exporters are facing severe cash flow problems, which has had an adverse impact on tea auction prices since Tuesday, 18, July, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said.