Srilanka: After trade unions threatened to strike over an energy deal with a US company, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued a special gazette banning strikes by employees related to essential services. All services related to the supply and distribution of all fuels, including petroleum products and liquefied gas, freight transport by the Sri Lanka Railway Department and all public transportation services provided by the Sri Lanka Transport Board for passenger transport, government administration, insurance services, the functioning of food service agencies, and postal services have been declared essential services, according to the gazette.
The order came after utility trade unions threatened to strike in protest of a power sector deal reached with a US agency. Representatives of a smaller party in the ruling alliance also expressed dissatisfaction with the government.
Members of the ruling party and allied parties had requested a meeting with Rajapaksa to discuss the proposed agreement with US-based New Fortress Energy Inc. on the Yugadanavi Power Plant, which is located just outside of Colombo. According to the agreement, the New Fortress will initially provide the government with the equivalent of 1.2 million gallons of LNG per day.
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