Businesses in Matara district put up shutters against VAT hike

Text and pix by P.D. DE SILVA

Businesses in the Matara district came to a halt yesterday (23) as members of all 14 Traders Associations in the district together with other sympathisers put up shutters of their business establishments in protest of the Government’s VAT hike.

The protestors numbering more than 2,000 gathered at the Uyanwatta ground and went in a procession to protest opposite the Jayasuriya ground for two hours before dispersing. Similar protests were held throughout the Matara district yesterday.