COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's troubled economy came to a halt on Thursday as over 1,000 government and private sector trade unions, representing nearly every industry from transportation to banking, went on strike to demand the government resign.

Members of the Collective of Trade Unions, including those in the foreign-invested apparel sector, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the administration, refusing to go to work and taking to the streets to demand the government's resignation. With no trains running and private bus owners keeping their cars off the road, transportation came to a full halt.  Trade unionists began their protests in front of their workplaces and marched to the President's Office, where they have been holding a continuous protest for the past 20 days.

The protests were joined by labour unions representing banks, railways, education, harbour, electricity, postal, clothing industry, and tea estate workers, as well as doctors and medical personnel on duty. "We have given the government until May 6 to quit, and if the government does not listen to the people, we will have to hold a hartal on May 6," Collective of Trade Unions and Mass Organizations member Ravi Kumudesh stated.

"If the government refuses to leave, we will have no choice except to expel them. People are urging the Rajapaksas to return home since they no longer have a mandate "General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Union, Joseph Stalin, remarked. Trade unions have requested that if the government decides not to leave, trade union activity be expanded.

People have turned to the streets to demand that the Rajapaksa government stand down as the island nation faces its worst-ever economic crisis in post-independence history, with substantial price hikes of critical products due to dollar crunch and inflation.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to establish an all-party governemnt after cancelling the cabinet headed by his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa under pressure from public protests, the economic crisis, and religious leaders. He invited all political parties to meet with him on Friday to begin discussions on forming an all-party government, but he has yet to receive a good response.

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