Work resumes at port as SLA withdraws trawler restriction

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 May 2003, 16:40 GMT]
Unloading work in the Point Pedro harbour in the Jaffna district returned to normalcy Friday evening when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) temporarily withdrew its restriction following a boycott campaign launched by the workers, sources said.

Earlier the SLA ordered the owners of boats that they should not anchor their boats in the jetty during night after day's work. The boats are used to tow the barges loaded with cargo from ship to shore. In addition, the SLA had told the workers that they should bring their lunch packets when they report for duty in the morning and should not leave the port for lunch.

The SLA brought the above procedure stating that the Point Pedro harbour and other surrounding areas are located in the high security zone, sources said.

However port workers and boat owners launched a boycott campaign crippling the unloading work in the Point Pedro harbour until these restrictions are removed, sources said.

The SLA officials held talks with the port authorities Friday afternoon and the SLA later agreed to withdraw its restriction temporarily. The workers thereafter announced that they have decided to suspend their boycott campaign, sources said.