President Getting Tough With Trade Unions Crippling Essential Services

The Cabinet last morning discussed  the disruption  of  fuel distribution by 1500 petroleum workers  taking trade union action against the Government move to  lease  Trinco oil  tank farm  to Lanka Indian Oil Company .

The strike was called  off  on assurance given by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe,   prior to taking an official  visit  to India for talks with Indian Prime Minister.

At this cabinet meeting some Ministers  reported to have told the President ,  that the  Government  should not  give in  to threats  by  trade unions  crippling the  activities of the Government   in the future.  They  raised  the strike issue  of  merely  1500  petroleum workers   paralyzing  the entire  petroleum distribution  network on Monday (24).

 In response,   the President  reported to have  proposed  to set up  a special  subcommittee  headed by  the Minister cum Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka to respond  emergency  situations such as  strike launched by petroleum workers .

This subcommittee will deal with strikes and agitations that take place throughout the country.   This action  reflects  President  taking  tough action against trade unions crippling essential services.