The police a short while ago fired tear gas to disperse garment workers who had been protesting throughout the day at Katunayake against the Government’s proposed private pension scheme, a trade unionist said.
Anton Marcus with the Free Trade Zone Workers Union (FTZWU) said that the police action was aimed at a few protestors who were waiting at bus halts to catch a ride home.
The police action was unprovoked since the protestors had remained peaceful throughout the day, Mr. Marcus said.
Earlier and estimated 25,000 factory hands took to the streets from early in the day in and around the FTZ zone in Katunayake to protest at the proposed pension scheme.
Nearly 350 airmen and policemen were used to disperse protesters who blocked the Katunayake - Negombo railway track protesting against the proposed private pension scheme this afternoon
The rail track was blocked using concrete slabs. Fifteen protesters were reportedly arrested by the police.
Police media spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said that the protesters came to an agreement with the police to halt the protest a short while ago. He said that no tear gas was used to disperse the protesters.
However a group of protesters had reached the rail tracks and laid concrete slabs urging the passengers to get down from their trains.
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