Govt pays tribute to working class

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Finance and State Revenue Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday told Parliament that the Government pays tribute to the working class who fully extended their support to the Government by not resorting to trade union action organised by the JVP together with several other political parties.

The Minister said once again the people have accepted the 'Mahinda Chinthana" policy introduced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Therefore, today can be described as a day which the entire nation has triumphed.

"An unholy collaboration was created among the JVP, UNP and TNA to organise this trade union action. The JVP and the other political parties attempted to utilise the country's working class to gain their narrow political objectives. However, the working class have completely rejected this trade union action.

The working class have joined hands with the Government by extending their fullest cooperation to the Government to continue its office, the Minister said.

Siyambalapitiya said various attempts were made to cripple public transport and create disturbances within workplaces. All these attempts were in vain due to fullest cooperation extended by the working class to the Government.

The Minister said JVP MP Lal Kantha who gave the leadership to this strike said he would resign from his MP's portfolio if this trade union action does not succeed.

"Therefore, we regret that a young politician like MP Lal Kantha who was elected to this House from the Rajarata has to resign."