Security has been beefed up at the premises of Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake as a tense situation prevailed in the surrounding area due to a strike launched by the airport employees yesterday making several demands including a pay raise.
As a result of the tenses situation prevailed from morning riot police and Special Task Force (STF) police have been deployed to strengthen the security at the airport and in the vicinity.
The protestors said since 1994, salaries have been increased every three years and the salary increase is due this year. But when a request was made to the subject minister to increase the salaries by Rs. 10,000 per employee this year, the Minister has rubbished the request for the pay hike and that is the main reason for the protest, according to a representative of the striking employees.
He said the demand for 10,000 rupees was made after lengthy discussions held by the airport employees as well as the officials of the airport.
According to the representative Sri Lanka Airport and Aviation Services has earned a profit of Rs. 11 billion last year and only 0.98 percent of the profit will have to be used to grant the pay raise to the employees.
He said the administrators will be given time until 9 am today (03) to respond positively to their request for a pay raise and if their demands are not met they will launch an indefinite strike.
Employees of the international airports at Katunayake and Mattala, all domestic airports including Ratmalana, and Aththidiya Transmission Center as well as Piduruthalagala Radar Center have voluntarily participated in the strike.
