Countrywide hartal cripples crisis-hit Lanka

With thousands of unions joining the hartal demanding the government to “go home”, many sectors in the country came to a standstill on Friday.

The hartal saw the closing of stores in prominent trading areas and several key towns, as well as the halting of several public transportations, including trains and buses, and public services.

All schools in the country were closed in view of the hartal, while several banks had also either closed or restricted their services.

Employees of the state, semi-government, public, and private institutions have refrained from their duties severely affecting public services in the country.

The public has also hoisted black flags in a number of towns to show their displeasure over the incumbent government.

Employees of Free Trade Zones engaged in public protests outside the trade zones.

Several public protests were also seen in a number of areas calling on the government to resign.

The estate, farmers, and fishing organizations have also engaged in the countrywide hartal.