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Exemption of FTZ workers from private pension:
Police attacked despite govt assurance
Sarath Malalasekera
Fifteen Police personnel including a Deputy Inspector General of
Police, an ASP, an Inspector, were injured during a clash between the
Free Trade Zone employees and the Police yesterday morning. They had
been rushed to the Negombo hospital.
‘Eight Free Trade Zone employees were also injured and rushed to the
Ragama hospital, said IGP Mahinda Balasuriya yesterday at a press
briefing held at the Police Headquarters.
The IGP said that Chilaw area DIG who was injured had been
transferred to the Colombo National Hospital for further treatment.
Immediately after the clash, the IGP said he deployed a special CID
team led by a DIG CID to conduct investigations into the incident,
adding that the investigation report will be forwarded to the President.
‘On the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa several senior
ministers had visited the Free Trade Zone employees yesterday morning
and had informed them that the government had taken a clear decision not
to include the Free Trade Zone employees in the proposed pension scheme,
the IGP said.
Despite this assurance by the ministers, about 500 employees stormed
the Katunayake Police station.
At this stage the Police were forced to open fire in the air in order
to protect the Army which was inside the police station, the IGP said.
“This unfortunate incident would not have occurred if the employees
listened to the ministers about the government decision in respect of
the pension scheme,” the IGP added.
About 43,000 employees in 80 factories were on the streets protesting
against the proposed pension scheme.
Replying the media personnel the IGP said that not a single employee
or any manager of the Free Trade Zone was arrested.
Several persons were taken into custody by the Katunayake Police and
they were released after recording their statements. Not a person has
been taken into remand custody, he said.
A magisterial inquiry will also be held today, the IGP said. |
