Employees attached to trade unions of the Hambantota Port have begun a one-day token strike today.

The strike that began at 8 a.m. is due to end at 5 p.m. this evening.

The protesting Hambantota port workers are asking that 466 temporary workers are made permanent or that adequate compensation is paid to them, if they are to be laid off.

The 466 workers are attached to the Magampura Port Management Company.

Late last year the same port employees went on strike, insisting the government absorb them into the permanent cadre.

The Ports Authority is yet to respond to the strike.