Sri Lanka union protester dies, police chief steps down

Sri Lanka's police chief stepped down on Wednesday and investigators arrested two police officers for firing on workers during a union protest that turned violent and sparked President Mahinda Rajapaksa's first big labour problem.
Late on Wednesday, a 21-year-old union demonstrator shot by police succumbed to his injuries in hospital, police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said. The death was likely to ratchet up union anger and spark larger protests.
Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya was due to retire on June 18, but gave formal notice and requested immediate leave until then, the president's office said.
The Defence Ministry told media Balasuriya's early exit was a "historic display of public accountability" but union leaders and analysts dismissed it as a ploy to deflect worker anger over a new pension scheme that prompted Monday's violence.
Intercompany Employees Union President Wasantha Samarasinghe, which led the demonstrations, accused the government of delaying the death announcement until it had made token moves with the police.
"They waited until the IGP resigned to announce the death. He has been hooked up to machines since the day he was shot. This demonstrates the government's double standards," he told Reuters.
He said police officers with loudspeakers were telling workers on Wednesday night not to report to the Katunayake free trade area, the site of Monday's violence which has been closed since Monday and was due to reopen on Thursday.
The clashes broke out on Monday at Katunayake, near Sri Lanka's only international airport, with protesters throwing rocks and police firing teargas and later, live ammunition. At least 200 people including 15 police officers were hurt.
The violence prompted 26 trade unions to band together and vow continuous strikes until the police responsible were punished, and the government scrapped a private pension proposal opposed by employees and employers alike.
Two police inspectors were taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department on Wednesday and accused of firing at protesters, police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said. Kusal Perera, an analyst with the Centre for Social Democracy in Colombo, said the police moves were designed to stem the rising union anger.