TUs must work for workers' rights - Deputy minister
Priyanka KURUGALA
Many trade union leaders are animated to protect their rights but not
the rights of the workers. It is the duty of every trade union, to work
for the protection of workers' rights. They have to work to strengthen
the government and attract members to the government, but not by
ignoring the workers, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa
Abeywardana said.
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Deputy Economic Development Minister Lakshman Yapa
Abewardena opening the SLFP union branch at the BOI. Picture
by Lalith C Gamage. |
The Deputy Minister was addressing the launch of the new branch of
Sri Lanka Freedom Workers' Union (Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya) at
the Board of Investment (BOI), Colombo yesterday.
He said: "Union leaders must work to win members from opposition
parties. It is a means of protection to the government.
"When President Mahinda Rajapaksa came into power, he did not have
two thirds majority in Parliament nor five sixths.
But he was able to win Muslim and Tamil party leaders, the JVP and
other opposition parties. As a result he was able to eradicate terrorism
from the country.
"The late President J R Jayawardana had more power than the present
President. Ranasinghe Premadasa, DB Wijethunga, Chandrika Bandaranaiake
Kumaratunga had more power than the present leadership. Nevertheless
they worked under the influence of India and stopped operations against
the LTTE.
"President Rajapaksa collected leaders from every party and built up
a two thirds majority.
"The Economic Development Ministry was established to strengthen the
country's economy . Trade unions have the strength to implement such
activities, the deputy minister said.
BOI Director Anura Jayasundara and Private Secretary to Western
Province Governor Najeeb Mavlan were also present. |
