Thousands of Sri Lankan workers went on strike on Friday, marking the fifth day of protests. The protests, which began over a government pension protest, turned violent earlier in the week, leading to the death of one worker, and injuries to 200 others. The protests have disrupted work in four of the country's free trade zones, which account for about 13% of exports. One union says that they will go on an indefinite strike if the government pension plan is not shelved for good. The government withdrew the plan after the protests, but said that they reserved the right to bring it back. Hundreds of Buddhist monks marched to the president's residence to protest the death of the worker on Friday. The dissatisfaction of labor unions in Sri Lanka is seen as a signal as to the popularity of the government.
See "Sri Lanka workers strike for fifth day, more unrest feared", Bryson Hull, Reuters, June 2, 2011