Sri Lanka: Ports unions to intensify agitation

Colombo: The Ports unions Sunday decided to convey its grievances to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and said it would intensify its trade union action from today as the discussion with two deputy Ministers failed.

Ports Employees’ General Union General Secretary Chandrasiri Mahagamage said the salary structure proposed by the Ports Ministry was full of anomalies and would create more chaos.

“In our discussion we pointed out these problems to them but they said they were unable to make any decision until the Minister comes and urged us to hold our trade union action till then,” he said.

The unions while dismissing this request urged the Ministry to fix a meeting with the President who is also the Finance Minister.

“They were however, not willing to heed to our request. Therefore we decided to write to the President requesting him to interfere in the matter to avoid further damage to the Port and the economy. We will however, intensify our work to rule campaign by launching other trade union actions along with it,” he added.

Meanwhile, a top official of the Ports Authority revealed that the Authority was facing a loss of Rs 230 million approximately due to the four day-long work to rule campaign.

In addition, the Authority has to pay 500 dollars to shipping lines per each delayed hour in operations according to international marine regulations.

Meanwhile Ports and Aviation Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake yesterday appointed a three member committee in a bid to end the work to rule campaign by the ports Authority workers.

The Committee comprises Ports Authority Chairman Saliya Wickremesuriya, Ports and Aviation Ministry Secretary Tilak Collure and Labour Ministry Secretary Mahinda Madihahewa.