May 05, Colombo: The Private Bus Owners’ Association says they have decided to withdraw from bus services from 12 midnight today.

The President of the Private Bus Owners’ Association Gemunu Wijeratne speaking at a media briefing said the decision was taken due to the lack of diesel for buses and to support the Hartal movement to be launched from midnight today.

Meanwhile, the Railway Trade Union Alliance stated that trains will not run from midnight today in support of the hartal. More than 40 railway trade unions will join the strike.

Co-convener of the Railway Trade Union Alliance SP Withanage said that the train strike will be carried out from 12.00 midnight today and end at 12.00 midnight on Friday, in support of the island wide hartal campaign to be held on Friday.

However, the Railway Department said although a hartal has been organized for tomorrow, it will not disrupt train services. Deputy General Manager of Railways Gamini Seneviratne said several railway unions have informed that they will report for duty tomorrow.

Meanwhile, over 1000 trade unions in many sectors including the health, transportation, train, power, and education have already agreed to participate in the nationwide hartal campaign to be launched tomorrow against the government.

Trade Unions of banks, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), as well as teachers and principals, are also set to participate in the hartal.

All Ceylon Government Medical Officers’ Association also stated that they would support the hartal campaign to be held on Friday. Due to this all the doctors in their union working in all the hospitals and offices except the cancer, maternity and pediatric hospitals will go on strike on that day. Doctors from the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) will work but will wear black armbands to support the strike.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration Officer’s Association said as trade union action they will withdraw from Immigration and Emigration duties at VIP terminals for Sri Lankan dignitaries at all airports in the country including Katunayake International Airport and Silk Road (CIP] for passenger clearance from May 6th.

The Hartal Committee Trade Union Coordinating Centre (TUCC) has warned that the hartal will change into a continuous hartal from the 11th of May if the government and President fail to take steps by tomorrow to respect the public’s opinion.