Innocent masses protected SLFP - Maithripala

Suraj A Bandara

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was always protected by the innocent and poor masses, Health Minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena said.

SLFP Trade Union Secretary Roy de Mel presents a statue of King Parakramabahu to Health Minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena

He was speaking at the sixth anniversary of the Sri Lanka Independent Health Employees' Association in Colombo on Tuesday. Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana and Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayaka also participated.

“Around 104 Trade Unions registered at the Labour Commissioners Department are from the Health Department. Some Trade Unions are directly linked to main political parties of the country. Some Trade Unions, though not representatives of political parties, function independently. Trade Unions connected to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, United National Party and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna are in the Health Department,” the minister said.

Sirisena said the SLFP has been in the forefront in maintaining a friendly dialogue with Trade Unions. “The SLFP always welcomes other Trade Unions' suggestions. We have fulfilled demands of many Trade Unions, unlike other political parties. During President J R Jayewardene's regime, thousands of public sector employees were sacked when they demanded a salary increase of Rs 300,” Sirisena said.

The SLFP from its inception, from the late SWRD Bandaranaike to President Mahinda Rajapaksa have never curbed activties of any Trade Union. As a pro-Leftist party, the SLFP always stood behind them and made efforts to provide justice to their demands,” he said.

“Our party was not protected by the elite attired in tie and coat. We gained power through tears and blood of the innocent masses. The strongest feature of any Trade Union or political party is to remain undivided and work peacefully. Had the party or the Trade Union split, they will ruin its establishment. Many political parties and Trade Unions get destroyed due to stooges, Sirisena said.