Air Traffic Controllers strike called off

The Air Traffic Controllers who were to launch a strike at 8.45 this morning has called off the strike.

No sooner that Media and Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera learnt about the intended strike he had gone to the Katunayake Airport and had made contingency plans to continue uninterrupted services. While the Minister was at the Airport a group of Air Traffic Controllers had pledged their support to continue uninterrupted services.

The Minister had also personally telephoned Indian Aviation Minister Patel about the situation and the Indian Minister has promised to send the Indian Air Traffic controllers to man the services in Sri Lanka in accordance with the SAARC Agreement on Air Traffic, if the need arises.

When contacted by the `Daily News' the Minister said that he refused to hold any talks with the trade unions until and unless they called off the strike. "I refused to be blackmailed by them," the Minister added.

Although the strike has been called off, the Indian Air Traffic officials will be in Sri Lanka to meet any emergency from today.

All trade unions of the Aviation Ministry including the SLFP,the JVP and the UNP had expressed their dissatisfaction with the strike and had said that the Minister should not 'give into' the unreasonable demands.

Minister Samaraweera told the "Daily News" later that if the trade unions were to inform him in writing that they have called off the strike and request a meeting with him, he would consider their request.