A group of drivers and transport workers attached to the Pelwatte Sugar Industries staged a protest on Monday in front of the factory, demanding the immediate payment of allowances that have been withheld for nearly two months.
The drivers claimed they have been forced to bear heavy out-of-pocket fuel expenses, with some transporting workers up to 200 kilometres daily to and from the factory.
Many said they are now unable to refuel their vehicles or continue their duties.
“We’ve raised this issue with the management several times, but no proper solution was given. We had no choice but to protest,” one driver said.
Following the demonstration, officials from the finance department invited two representatives of the protesting group for discussions and assured them that steps would be taken to release the overdue payments promptly.
Protesters dispersed after the assurance, but warned that further action would be taken if the promises are not fulfilled.
Meanwhile, the Pelwatte Sugar Factory is facing a dire operational crisis, with over 16,500 metric tonnes of unsold brown sugar clogging its warehouses.
According to owning company, Lanka Sugar Company Chief Operating Officer (COO) Nuwan Dharmaratne, this surplus, driven by unchecked sugar imports and an uneven tax policy, has left the company in financial and logistical disarray.
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