Row over dredging of ancient irrigation tank Sri Lanka by military camouflage-clad Chinese men ANI | Updated: Jul 03, 2021 09:01 IST
Colombo [Sri Lanka], July 3 (ANI): A controversy erupted over the dredging of an ancient irrigation tank Tissa Wewa in Tissamaharama in Hambantota District in Sri Lanka after media reports showed Chinese men clad in military camouflage outfits at the site.
Hambantota, a maritime inland port project in Hambantota District has been an area of focus for critics who have accused China of using dept-trap diplomacy to boost its geopolitical influence around the world. Colombo had to hand over the running of the Hambantota port to China in 2017 after it was unable to repay the Chinese loans used to develop it.
Defying anti-strike laws, 30,000 Sri Lankan nurses hold two-day sicknote protest
Health workers protest in Ampara on June 11 [Source: Facebook]
Apart from those involved in special services, including for treating children, cancer and COVID-19 patients, and for emergency and intensive care units, over 30,000 nurses from the 38,000-strong workforce were involved in the industrial action.
Strikes or any other form of industrial action or protest is a punishable criminal offence, under the government’s “Essential Services” Act. Anyone who breaks this law faces between two to five years’ imprisonment, and/or fines of 2,000 to 5,000 rupees. While the law affects nearly one million public sector workers, not a single Sri Lankan union, including those in the health sector, has opposed these anti-democratic measures.