The Ports Trade Unions' trade union action against the transfer of 49% of the Eastern Terminal of the Colombo Port to an Indian investor will commence at 12 noon today.

Based on this issue the trade unions engaged in protests and strikes at the Colombo Port last year as well.

It was only after discussions with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa that the trade unions decided to suspend the trade union action.

Subsequently, operations commenced at the Eastern Terminal of the Colombo Port, but a proposal prepared by the Trade Unions was submitted to the Cabinet Sub-Committee recently to be developed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority without Indian investors.

The 23 Ports Trade Unions are going on strike from 12 noon today demanding that the proposal to retain 100% ownership of the Eastern Terminal be included in the Cabinet Memorandum.