Ultimatum to Hambantota harbour workers is 2 pm today,if not they would lose jobs

The ministry officials of the port and naval affairs ministry have informed the employees of the Hambantota harbour who are on a satygraha to return to work before 2 pm on the 15th instant.If they do not report for work they would be deemed as vacated their posts.

The demand the workers had claimed was that they be absorbed as workers of the port authority.The workers in the Hambantota harbour are attached to a Company administered by a private management.

They had struck work and engaged in a satygraha campaign for 9 days.During the strike the strikers had forcibly retaining two ships that were anchored in the Magampura harbour. This had amounted to plundering or looting the ships.With the intervention of the Navy personnel the two ships were saved and were sent away after unloading the cargo preventing a very unpleasant repercussions.The prompt action of the Navy personnel prevented a severe loss and a damage in front of the world shipping community was said by the minister of port and naval affairs Arjuna Ranatunga.