A number of Trade Union leaders strongly condemned the strike action to be held tomorrow (15) by several Trade Unions against the new tax policy with a political objective at a time when there is an agreement from the International Monetary Fund to provide a loan to Sri Lanka, which has been stuck in a severe economic crisis.
It is said that these opportunistic Trade Unions are trying to bring the country back into the abyss by worsening issues that need to be resolved through discussion, at a time when the sufferings of the people are being relieved by ending an era of long queues.
Lanka Private Bus Owners Association, Public Service United Nurses Association, Renaissance Lawyers Organization, Colombo Business Association, Union of Civil Organizations and Trade Unions, Pranagati Bank Employees Association and a number of educational, medical and port unions have decided not to support this strike.
Secretary General of the Colombo Business Association Chaminda Widanagamage said that at a time when the country is getting back to normal, efforts should be made to strengthen the economy without causing it to collapse again.
Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association President Gemunu Wijeratne said that these protests are being carried out when the country is on the verge of receiving the IMF facility.
“Their intention is to disrupt the country’s progress to achieve their petty political objectives,” he said.
Wijeratne said that these protests are being carried out with the ulterior motive of disrupting the programme.
Public Service United Nurses Union President Ven. Murutthettuve Ananda Thera said that none of the professionals in his union would join the protest.
He said that the total number of nursing staff in the country is about 45,000 and 20,000 members of the union will not be involved in the strike action.
He said that (13) a discussion was held with President Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding the needs of nursing professionals and the President agreed to secure the rights of nurses.
Meanwhile, Colombo National Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Rukshan Bellana emphasised that it is wrong for Trade Unions to use ordinary patients as a shield to win their demands.