Employees of Vavuniya urban council held a strike on Friday, protesting the unnecessary and aggressive intrusion of United National Party (UNP) supporters into their duties.
Council workers had been instructed by the council chair to clear unauthorised and outdated posters, including political ones, from public spaces.
Confrontations had occurred between employees and UNP supporters, as well as a UNP member of the urban council, as the party’s supporters attempted to prevent UNP posters from being removed.
The workers boycotted their duties on the morning of Friday January 25, parking their vehicles outside the council.
The protest ended around 1pm when the UNP council member and his supporters were forced to apologise to the employees.