SLFP Transport Workers' Union hands over memorandum to Minister

A delegation of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Transport workers Union (Sri Lanka Nidahas Pravahana Seveka Samithiya) led by former Deputy Minister Reggie Ranatunga and Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana called on Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama at his Ministry yesterday and handed over a seven point memorandum to him.

Dr. Amunugama who held a cordial and detailed discussion with the delegation agreed to draw his attention to the points contained in the Memorandum which are relevant to his Ministry.

A Finance and Planning Ministry release said Dr. Amunugama who mainly discussed financial problems agreed that the state transport sector had to play a vital role in the country's transport field and it should occupy 40 percent of the current transport market.

Since the public sector would not achieve that objective under the present structure, it was agreed that this sector should be re-organised. Dr. Amunugama said the Finance Ministry would discuss this re-organisation plan with SEMA Institute and relevant Ministries and come back to the Trade Unions once again for a discussion.

The Finance Minster also agreed to take into account the ideas and views as well as proposals made by trade unions in framing the re-organisational structure.

It was also agreed to increase the present fleet by 40 per-cent by importing new buses and repairing existing ones as past of the re-organisation.

The treasury agreed the required funds in line with the implementation of the re-organisation plan. Finance and planning Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera also attended the discussions.