Free Trade Zone incident:

Minister denounces police action

Hemanthi Guruge

Minister Wimal Weerawansa

The National Freedom Front leader and Construction, Engneering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa denounced the police action in the recent Free Trade Zone incident.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at Battaramulla, the minister said that people have the right to participate in protests or agitation at their workplaces. The police have no rights to get involved in it.

The minister added that no politician ordered the IGP to use police power to control the protesters. Free Trade Zone employees have launched a protest against the proposed private sector pension scheme according to the needs of the JVP, the minister said.

Various political parties are now engaged in anti-government activities for which, it is suspected, certain police officers are giving support, he said. The minister has requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to take action against certain police officers. Minister Weerawansa urged Free Trade Zone employees not to be cheated by the JVP.

However, the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has decided to temporarily suspend the proposed private sector pension scheme.