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The recent strikes have manifested the helplessness of the public.
With the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and affiliated unions threatening of
more strikes to cripple the essential services, it is indeed timely to
consider the moral obligations of unions towards society and also the
need to regulate the conduct of the unions particularly to prevent
disruption of the essential services. Already the university academics,
Principals of schools, teachers and the nurses, railway employees,
private bus operators, Ceylon Electricity Board have resorted to strike
action from time to time and have further threatened to strike if their
demands are not met. Should Trade unions be permitted to continue
unabated with their threats of disruption of essential services? The
patience the public have so far displayed is running thin.
Unless some meaningful action is taken to rid the country of strikes
for frivolous reasons by the public sector trade unions, the day with
not be too far when those resorting to 'wild cat' strikes will be strong
to destabilize the government. The government should bring in new
regulations to regulate strikes in the public sector without depending
essentially on the Emergency Regulations and Public Security Ordinance.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a discussions with a group of
pro-government trade union representatives, warned of insidious efforts
of some destructive forces to destabilize the country.
The recent strike and the threatened strikes have all the trappings
of a political muscle flexing on the part of some of the organizers.
They are undoubted attempting to settle political scores with the
government on the pretext of championing the cause of the workers.
A Trade Union is an organization of workers formed to promote,
protect and improve through Collective Action, the social economic and
interests of its members. While the philosophies of trade unions have
gradually changed, Trade Unions are essential entities in any democratic
country and should be encouraged to represent the voice of the workers.
They provide the perfect forum for workers to project their demands and
the most effective vehicle to interact with the employers. It is
accepted without any dispute that harmonious industrial relations are
vital for increasing productivity national development.
During the past few months we have witnessed a surfeit of strikes,
Go-slow campaigns, demonstrations, protest marches and fasts while
posters have come up and the buildings and walls of some institutions
have been plastered with slogans, some demanding salary increases,
permanency for those on temporary and casual employment and employment
for graduates. Additionally university violence has added its own band
of dissent at a time the country is seeking desperately to come out of
its dismal economic morass while directing its energies to rebuild,
after the devastating war.
The right to strike is one of the most fundamental rights enjoyed by
employees and unions and is an integral part of the right to defend
their economic and social interests. 'Strike' is a workers' and a
recognized trade union or industrial action the world over. There are
other weapons of less harmful nature and the last resort weapon. For our
trade union movement regrettably, it has become the first resort weapon.
Strike action is like a licensed gun which should be used only in a
situation of a real threat to life or property. Why is strike action
given legal recognition?
The strikes and stoppages which have been launched in recent years,
have denied the country of hundreds of thousands of working hours,
painting a gloomy picture in the minds of the investors and are creating
an adverse image of the country in the global community, apart from the
untold hardships imposed on the public. Some of the strikes which have
been launched, apart from the irreparable damage to the economy, have
even led to the closure of productive ventures. When one considers the
alarming statistics of the number of strikes and the consequent loss of
man hours from 1997 to 2010 one can imagine the devastating effect on
the economy.
State employees who strike or resort to disruptive activities ought
to remember that the Armed Services saved this country from terrorism in
a war fought under very trying conditions and lost thousand of their
members in the process.
They never made any issue of their salaries, allowances and other
benefits to working under very difficult conditions and risking their
lives to preserve the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
The need to regulate trade union action in resorting to 'Strike
Action' cannot be over emphasized. It is necessary more than ever before
to effectively regulate Trade Unions. The public cannot be expected to
sit back and watch Trade Unions launch 'wild cat' strikes with
monotonous regularity. Enough is enough. They too have a right to voice
their grievances and the right to protect their interests as do the
strikers, if not more so, particularly when it involves highly essential
services like, electricity, water and health.
Sqn. Ldr.
J.T.R. Rex Fernanado
S.L.A.F. (Retd)
O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good; and do not
follow the footsteps of the evil one, for he is to you an avowed enemy.
Holy Quran - Chapter 2 verse 168.
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said that which is Halaal is clear
and that which is Haraam is unclear and between the two of them are
ambiguous (mutashabihat) matters about which many people do not know.
Thus he who avoids ambiguous matters clears himself in regard to his
religion and his honour but he who falls into ambiguous matters
eventually falls into that which is Haraam, like the shepherd who
pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein.
Truly every King has a sanctuary and truly Allah's sanctuary is His
prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it
be whole, all the body is whole and which if it is diseased all of (the
body) is diseased. Truly, it is the heart. (Bukhaari and Muslim).
Although fast food meeting with stringent shariah pre-requisites and
other quality standards for halaal, may technically qualify for Halaal
Certificate, I strongly feel that taking into consideration the
medically proven bad effects on health, it is better if the ACJU (All
Ceylon Jammiyathul Ulema) refrain from issuing Halaal Certificates. If
it all it has to grant Halaal Certificates as the ingredients,
additives, colourings, emulsifiers, emollients, per se are undoubtedly
Halaal, isn't it better that it should be qualified with a clause? The
qualifier could be thus: Consumption of these is harmful to health or
some statement of similar importance so that consumers will avoid or
minimise patronising fast food outlets. The Council of Muslim
Theologians (ACJU) should be thanked for their overall untiring efforts
to create awareness amongst the public about Halaal products which will
benefit not only the Muslims but others as well.
Mohamed Zahran
Colombo 3
The purpose of this letter is not to heap cheap flattery on you but
to express gratitude for the work currently underway in the city. We are
now witnessing a tremendous development by way of infrastructure, city
beautification and environmental cleanliness and thus we feel fortunate
to have a personality of your calibre who could win wars and then play a
major role in the country's development.
Once I had the opportunity to participate in a meeting at the Defence
Secretariat where you explained how you overcame the garbage issue in
the country. As we all know, now there is an environmental unit in every
Police station which assigns an officer as early as 5.00 am in the
morning to designated areas to oversee the cleanliness of the area,
co-ordinating with the cleaning contractor and the local authority. This
is exemplary work in handling the 'City Beautification Program' without
straining government coffers.
As a person who has travelled much around the world, I could
contribute to your effort by making a few suggestions to improve the
traffic situation in the city. Generally, in countries without standard
in development, the two wheelers get much more respect as they
contribute in a major way to minimize traffic congestion. Thus it is
important that two wheeler riders are protected by allowing them to get
through the traffic easily. However in Sri Lanka it is common to observe
motorbikes with two or three pillion riders trekking along in a zigzag
manner in bumper to bumper traffic risking the possibility of being
sandwiched between vehicles. In cities such as Bangkok we hear the roar
of motorcycles no sooner the amber light appears on the signal post,
simply because other drivers give way as they understand the hazards of
biking and recognize its relevance. There are two wheeler taxis whose
charges are higher than those of the Tuk Tuks (Three wheelers), the
reason being their mobility in heavy traffic, saving travel time.
The other point is that we feel that the traffic in the city could be
more regulated if the authorities get the drivers to observe lane
discipline on the roads. Although most of our roads may not be wide
enough to follow this rule we should at least apply this near traffic
lights and junctions. It could be an idea to appoint a police officer at
every signal light in the city to penalize errant drivers until the
drivers get the message of the need to maintain lane discipline. After
all, as they say in the Army "There is no sustenance in life without
discipline."
As a senior citizen who loves this country devoid of political colors
and hidden agendas, I humbly request you to continue the good work
instilling a sense of discipline and fair play in the affairs as this
could be our big opportunity to align ourselves with the developed
world. And in that we would always look up to you as our Messiah.
Gamini Wijith
Hettirachchi JP
Recently the Colombo Mayor was accused of supporting the government
by a Colombo UNP MP. He latter had to 'promulgate' it as the former was
extending his able assistance to the Defence and UDA Secretary in
developing the Colombo city. Did not the Opposition Leader a few weeks
ago highly commend the President and the government for having
successfully held the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference saying
that it was of the best CPA Conferences ever held? There is nothing
wrong in calling a spade a spade.
Actually, if a country or a city is to be developed the co-operation
of all political parties is essential. If the intention of every
politician, whether in the ruling party or in the Opposition is to see
his or her nation thriving in all aspects, developing vastly and
rapidly, then he or she has to certainly lend the necessary support the
encouragement for such things. To feel jealous that credit would go to
his or her political opponent is malicious. Joining hands for the
betterment of the country is paramount.
Except for the normal services the CMC has been rendering except the
garbage which was regrettable, there was no improvement at all for the
city. However, with the UDA functioning under the Defence Secretary,
radical changes have taken place. The slumbering local body has woken
up. The Army and the Navy had the savvy and readiness to contribute
their labour to all projects that had been so far completed, at the
request of the Defence Secretary.
An English newspaper picture recently showed the ugly, path-filled,
litter-filled roof tops of the slums when entering Thotalanga Bridge.
There are similart ones in a few other places too. As a short-term
solution, in order to have a better look, those houses too should be
demolished part by part and houses with asbestos roofing should be
built, like the ones that have come up near the 'aluthpalama' (known as
Tamil Nadu). Hope the UDA/CMC will consider this suggestion to remove
those eye-sores.
Nazly Cassim
Colombo 13.
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