Smooth sailing for SLPA as workers shun strike call
All operations, duties and other services at the Sri Lanka Ports
Authority have not been disturbed due to the islandwide strike organised
by several trade unions yesterday.
Accordingly, the attendance of all SLPA employees to work and their
duties located at various places inside the port were normal.
Special arrangements had been made to face successfully and
effectively to the general strike upon instructions by Ports, Aviation,
Irrigation and Water Management Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and under the
supervision of SLPA Acting Chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrama at the Sri
Lanka Port Authority to carry out the daily port operations and other
duties and services according to normal procedures. But there was no
need of implementing such a procedure as all employees of the SLPA had
reported and commenced their duties as usual.
Chamal Rajapaksa, Minister of Ports, Aviation, Irrigation and Water
Management expressed these views attending a special inspection tour in
the Port Authority yesterday.
A special increase of employee attendance has also been reported at
the SLPA yesterday while the usual number of 26 gantry crane operations
per hour has been effectively maintained.
The SLPA management has already implemented and effective and
successful procedure to increase the salaries of all employees in SLPA
and accordingly salary hikes have been granted continuously during
regular intervals.
Therefore, it is commendable that all employees have extended their
faith and dedication to not to disturb the port activities in any way
and carry out their duties and services without any failure even
yesterday where a general strike have been called out by several trade
unions.
Minister Rajapaksa said yesterday all activities of the Colombo Port
took place even better than any other day. The Minister said the trade
unions have not paid any concern of the strike and it was equally
important that all employees had understood themselves the right way of
working efficiently at a time like this.
He said he was thankful to all trade unions who had organised this
said to be a huge general strike as it had paved path for everyone to
work more efficiently with more enthusiasm towards their duties.
The Minister also thanked all part employees for their dedication to
carry out work efficiently without any disruption. Gantry operations and
other areas inside SLPA were also subjected to the special inspection of
the minister.
Acting Chairman of SLPA Priyath Bandu Wickrama, Director Prasanna
Kalutharage, Managing Director W. G. Samarathunga and the Additional
Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola also participated in this
special inspection tour. |