By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana 

Trade unions of top state institutions including Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Inland Revenue Department, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Colombo National Hospital (CNH) and leading other hospitals are amongst a range of bodies to protest today as part of the countrywide national demonstration against the rising cost of living and the 2023 budget with a heavy tax burden on people. 

Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC) announced that the two-day national demonstration would be held on December 05th and 06th in countrywide selected locations and outside the respective state institutions. 
The main demonstration will be held today (6) in many districts including Colombo, which houses many a number of state institutions. 

Most of these protests are scheduled to commence at 12 noon outside the respective head offices including Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Ceylon Electricity Board, Inland Revenue Department, Colombo National Hospital, Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila, Neville Fernando Hospital, Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, Maharagama Hospital, Awissawella Hospital and Central Bus Stand Petah. 

Also, other private bodies like Fernwood Porcelain, Hotel Taj Samudra, Little Lion, Bathware and many other companies will participate in the national demonstration with separate collective protests to be held in Malabe Junction, Kottawa town, Piliyandala town and Homagama town. 

The chief demands of the demonstrators are the rising cost of living, selling national assets, exemptions for the politicians to lead a luxurious lifestyle whilst the general public suffer and the unbearable taxing introduced by the ‘Ranil – Rajapaksa’ budget for 2023.