Train strikes: Tills to collect funds for legal action

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: Go to court against strikers, Fowzie tells Public - this was our lead story on June 13 based on a comment by Transport Minister A.H.M. Fowzie urging the public to institute legal action against unions which strike to win their demands without considering the hardships caused to the public.

Since then we have been inundated with calls from various quarters making inquiries about the issue. What most wanted to know was whether this was practically possible. "Where are we going to get the money to institute legal action" one commuter queried. So the Daily News contacted the man in the spotlight, Minister Fowzie.

The Minister who is never short of novel and innovative ideas has a answer - installing tills in all major stations to collect money.

"When the need arises we can put the collections to good use," the Minister said adding that the "public should be more aware about this because they were the ones at the receiving end". The minister added that the trade unions should act in a responsible manner when resorting to such action.

"They should have the inconveniences caused to the public uppermost in their minds. First they should initiate a dialogue with relevant authorities to win their demands. If all else fail and their demands are justified then they can resort to such action," he said.