Port unions urged to act responsibly

Channa Kasturisinghe

COLOMBO: Exporters and importers yesterday appealed to Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) trade unions to act in a responsible manner without resorting to ad hoc union action which would cripple the country's economy at a time it is facing a threat from terrorism.

They also urged the Government to take immediate action to restore normal operations in the Colombo Port which would otherwise lead to a massive loss of business.

Sri Lanka Shippers Council Chairman Jayanath Perera told the Daily News that the SLPA workers' go-slow campaign has caused an enormous loss to the economy.

"There is a threat of vessels of major shipping lines bypassing Colombo. On Sunday evening, a Maersk Line vessel which was to berth at the Port decided to leave without loading or discharging.

Due to productivity losses in the Port many other vessels could not complete their operations. When they cannot complete operations here within the allocated time they cannot meet international transshipment schedules.

Therefore, these ships have no option other than to leave Colombo behind," Perera said. He said the Colombo Port is already congested due to the go slow campaign and even if the work came back to normal it would take some time for the congestion to reduce.

Meanwhile, the Government has appointed a three-member committee to discuss with the trade unions and come to a final decision about the salary issue of the SLPA employees. The Committee comprises SLPA Chairman Saliya Wickremasuriya, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour Mahinda Madihahewa and the Secretary of the Ports and Aviation Ministry Tilak Collure.

However, a spokesman for an importers association said that they expect the problem to drag on further putting importers under severe difficulty.

"We have heard that the three member committee is to meet today (Monday). But the SLPA Chairman was out of the country. Even if they discuss with the committee there is no assurance that the unions will cancel the trade union action immediately," he said.

He said some political parties too support the trade union action without considering the fact that the country is already facing a terrorist threat.

"This is what really the terrorists too want to happen. They also tried to attack the Port to cripple the economy. Now our own people are doing the same," he said.

Coordinating Secretary of the Deputy Minister of Ports And Aviation Mangala Ranasinghe, said that the Deputy Minister has appealed to the unions to call off the go slow campaign until the newly appointed committee announces its decision.