Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Poised to Strike

All the trade unions of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) have decided to launch a massive strike next week in case the oil facility at the Hambanthota Port is given to the China Merchant Company.
“Tomorrow, we will make our demands known to the Minister of Petroleum and Petroleum Gas Chandima Weerakkodi. If our demand is not heeded we will begin a strike without informing the relevant authorities,” the Convenor of Trade Union Alliance of the CPC Janaka Rajakaruna said.

He said that if the Chinese company is permitted to build a petroleum refinery in the Hambanthota then the entire oil industry in the country will go to foreign companies.
He also pointed out that the oil tank farm in China Bay Trincomalee will have to be given to India in case the oil facility in the Hambantota Port is handed over to China.

“China wants Hambantota and India wants Trincomalee not because of business but because of geopolitics. Sri Lanka is not a country which has a lot of natural resources. Sri Lanka can market only the geopolitical location of the country. The harbours in this country have become the nerve centers for regional politics of other countries,” Rajakaruna further said.
Six of the seven trade unions of CPC including JVP’s and SLFP’s unions, Engineers’ Union, Executive Officers’ Union and All Ceylon Petroleum Union have joined this massive strike.