The premier industrial lobby group, the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI) yesterday fired a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa urging him to take strong and quick action against trade union strikes that destabilizes the country.
“It is with serious concern and utter bewilderment that we watch the daily disruption of economic activity and civic rights of the people of our country by irresponsible and selfish Trade Union Action by Trade unions of important sectors of Government enterprises,” CNCI Chairman Nimal Perera has lamented in his letter to President Rajapaksa.
He recalled that the Colombo Port strike which lasted for 10 days not only cost the country millions of rupees but it had long lasting repercussions to the economy due to serious impediments the exporters and importers including the manufactures have to face would have severe negative effects on the economy.
“The strike action by the workers of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation who are holding the whole country to ransom would compound the adverse effects and the damage sustained to the economy by the Port strike,” the CNCI chief emphasised.
He pointed out that if the published reason for the CPC strike is the appointment of a Chairman made by the President needless to say that the trade unions today could even dictate terms to the Executive President democratically elected by the people. “We believe that godfathers of this mischief making Trade Union leaders are in the Government ranks as well which makes the situation even worse. A strike action after action by Government and Government Corporation employees of key installations in the country could even be a deliberate attempt to destabilize the Government,” the CNCI chief said.
He opined that if the Government submit to CPC workers’ demands there will be more sectors resorting to Trade Union action thereafter crippling the entire economy and totally destabilizing the country.
“We as responsible members of the private sector urge you to deal with these CPC strikers firmly and in the event that they continue their strike action to evict them and deploy the armed forces to bring normalcy to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation,” the CNCI Chairman Perera had said in his letter to President Rajapaksa.
