Lorry owners, drivers and cleaners are staging the fast againt the removal of 12 private lorries from transport duties at the CWE’s Weerawila warehouse.

In their place, CWE owned lorries are now being used.

As a result, transport costs of the CWE have gone up by around 20 per cent, according to reports reaching Sri Lanka Mirror.

Previously, a five ton lorry was paid Rs. 40 per km, a 10 ton lorry Rs. 50 per km and 20 a ton lorry Rs. 65 per km.

Now, these rates have been raised to Rs. 46, Rs. 60 and Rs. 85 per km respectively.

Attempts by minister Risath Badurdeen to resolve the matter as CWE chairman Kiran Atapattu has opposed him.