Sri Lanka hit by strikes by trade unions against tax reforms ahead of IMF bailout deal

 

Colombo: Trade unions of most state sector establishments in Sri Lanka went on a strike on Monday against the government’s tax reforms to secure approval for the much-required USD 2.9 billion bailout package from the IMF.

The debt-struck country introduced painful economic measures such as tax hikes, and utility rate increases, part of the reforms prescribed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a must for the release of the bailout package.

The doctors’ trade union said it launched a day of strikes on Monday, covering four of the nine provinces of the island nation.