JVP backed group drew workers into clash - Minister Keheliya Rambukwella

Dharma Sri Abeyratne and Priyanka Kurugala

“A short sighted extremist group backed up by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna inveigled innocent employees of the Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ) into an unnecessary clash with the Police aiming to ruin the industrial peace in the country,” Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

The minister was addressing media at the weekly Cabinet briefing at the Information Department yesterday.

“Inciting clashes or riots with the Police is not new to the JVP who are past masters in burning and attacking police stations since 1971.”

“This is not only the practice but also the political culture of the JVP,” the minister said.

“After considering several issues including the working pattern of FTZ employees, the government clearly mentioned that FTZ employees will not be included in the new pension scheme drafted for the private sector employees,” he said. “Having received this notice FTZ employees were shouting slogans that they won their demands and were ready to report back to their work places. At this juncture, an extremist group led by the JVP aroused the innocent workers to attack the Police to bring their narrow political objectives into action.”

As a result of this pawless situation created by the JVP, 15 police personnel including a Deputy Inspector General of Police, an ASP, an Inspector and some FTZ employees were injured.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted investigations into the clash while arresting a few FTZ employees and a Chief Inspector and an Inspector.

The Minister further said that the JVP could make another attempt to plunge the country into anarchy as it did in 89 and 90. When considering the political behavior of the JVP it is obvious that it is trying to begain their lost clout by destroying the industrial peace.

For the first time in the history of the country President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed a committee with immediate effect to look into this incident. The committee was advised to submit its report within five days.

Meanwhile, as a people friendly government, the proposed Private Sector Pension Bill has been withdrawn eventhough the government has the right to present a new bill instead of this withdrawn bill in the future. Almost all controversial issues will be rectified when drafting the new bill.

In accordance with the Mahinda Chintana, all private sector employees will be beneficiaries of a pension scheme.

Therefore a new private sector pension scheme may be implemented since the government believes that it is duty bound to look after over 7 million employees in the private sector.