The Sri Lanka Customs trade unions have decided to call off their planned trade union action after discussions with State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya. The unions, including the Customs Officers’ Union, initially planned to protest by taking sick leave on July 4 and 5 in response to the lack of satisfactory answers to their demands from the authorities.

The union’s spokesman stated that members were protesting against the authorities’ arbitrary decision to introduce the Sri Lanka Revenue Authority (SLRA) Bill and amend various sections of the Customs Ordinance. Customs officials had been engaging in a “work-to-rule” action for the past two days due to unfruitful discussions with authorities.