‘Strike a cover-up for UNP, JVP internal cracks’

Jul 8, 2008 Source: Daily News - By Chaminda PERERA

COLOMBO: Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said yesterday the proposed strike on July 10 was a futile attempt by the UNP and the JVP to cover up growing cracks within the two parties. Addressing the media at the Information Department, the Minister said these parties which are staring defeat in the face of the Government’s various people-friendly initiatives are engaged in a futile attempt to regain their lost momentum by stooping to low levels to incite the country’s work force. The UNF Government during its short span of administration devised various plans to cut down the strength of the Government’s work force to 0.3 million from 0.7 million. The UNP has no right whatsoever to talk of labour rights as it was they who violated labour rights under their administration. Today the Government service comprises over 1.1 million employees and their minimum salary scale was increased to Rs. 11,000 under the present Government, he said. “Some elements in the Opposition want to reverse what the Security Forces have so far achieved. The Security Forces have achieved many victories on the war front. “They have liberated large areas under LTTE control which the IPKF could not even reach,” Minister Yapa said. “The public is taken on ride by these political parties to fulfill their narrow petty gains by putting the country’s security at stake. The country’s workforce who love the country more than any thing is firmly with the Government,” the Minister said. The people know the history and they will never fall prey to the wiles of these parties. The JVP which is talking about workers’ welfare and rights today betrayed the workers’ struggle in 1980 to the UNP,” he said. The motive behind the proposed strike is not associated with Trade Unions nor the workers. There is a political motive behind this, the Minister emphasised. This is the first time in Sri Lanka’s political history that the Opposition is demanding to put off an election which is a sine qua non for the uplift of democracy. The Opposition is clamouring for the postpotment of election while publicly uttering that they are winning the election, he said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a bid to solve the problems of the labour force, last week invited all trade unions for a discussion. They demanded a salary hike in the backdrop of the rising Cost of Living and the President promised to grant Rs. 1,000 as a temporary allowance till a pay hike for public servants is granted in the next Budget, the Minister said. Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abewardena and representatives of Lake House Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya, Rupavahini and Government press attended the briefing. The Wages Control Board is to recommend an increase in the private sector salaries from 15 per cent to 40 per cent. The salary of media personnel will also be increased under this, the Minister said. President Rajapaksa soon after assuming the Presidency granted an unprecedented salary hike to Government servants and he directed the private sector too to increase the employees salary by Rs. 1,000. “This proposed strike will be a flop. A number of Trade Unions have already refused to take part in such a strike in an ad hoc manner. The Trade Unions first try to ascertain how problems could be solved amicably. Launching of a strike is a final resort when all other avenues have been exhausted,” he said. Source of the article