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Sri Lanka gears up for workers strike

COLOMBO: A tense atmosphere prevailed in the island-nation as it prepared to face a workers’ strike on Thursday. The strike call has been given by trade unions demanding an increase in monthly wages.

Observers said the strike is a show of strength by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramua (JVP). President Mahinda Rajapaksa is determined to ensure peace and views the strike as an attempt to embarrass it before the SAARC Summit, which is being held here in the first week of August.

Defence Ministry spokesperson and Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, said while the government acknowledged the rights of workers to resort to strikes, it would not hesitate to take [the] sternest action to prevent illegal demonstrations, which may violate law and order.

Mr. Rambukwella asserted the strike was an attempt by a section of the political forces to bring the military, which is engaged in fighting the LTTE to the South. Asked if there was a secret pact between the JVP and LTTE, the Minister said the possibility can not be ruled out. The government on its part is determined to continue the fight against the LTTE and not allow any one to disrupt the operations, he maintained.

He said when the strike call was announced, Mr. Rajapaksa invited all the unions to discuss their demands, but the JVP-controlled unions did not participate in the talks. If Rs. 5,000 [in the salary] is to be increased, the defence allocation has to be curtailed, which will result in a setback for the ongoing struggle for the liberation of the North from the grip of terrorism, he argued. The unions have said they are ready to call off strike if the government agrees to postpone the proposed elections to two provincial councils in the South, implement the 17th amendment and reduce the number of Council of Ministers to 35 from 105.

These demands have nothing to do with the cost of living. This proves that the strike in politically motivated, said Mr. Rambukwella. As per intelligence reports, certain parties are instigating student’ unions, he added.

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