Strikes could be the beginning of another ‘Aragalaya’: Bandula

10 July 2024 04:53 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 9 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

The strikes that are prevailing in the country could be the beginning of another ‘Aragalaya’ that might destabilize the nation, Minister of Transport Bandula Gunawardene told Parliament today.

“Strikes that are prevailing today could be the beginning of an exercise to destabilize the country that might end up with the burning of the parliamentary complex,” the minister said.

“The strikers are making an impossible demand for an upward revision of salaries. The government will have to increase the value-added tax (VAT) and other taxes to generate funds to meet the wage hike that is demanded by railway workers and others. The opposition is well aware that it is not possible to give a wage hike. However, they are making false promises. Please don’t engage in this kind of exercise, as you will be cursed at the end of the day,” he added.

“We will be compelled to consider that railway workers have vacated their jobs if they fail to return to work today. We will have to consider that they have accepted terrorism and challenged the rule of law in this country,” he also said.

Comments - 9

Yohan Wednesday, 10 July 2024 05:51 PM

Ban peratugami and jvp immediately.

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APPUHAMY Wednesday, 10 July 2024 07:09 PM

Privatize all. Game over!

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Peeved Wednesday, 10 July 2024 08:38 PM

Strikes come about because the working population can't keep paying increase in taxes without more money for the work they do. There needs to be a balance between earnings and taxes. Another method is to reduce the number of parliamentarians, reduce the remaining parliamentarian's salaries, give the money to the people who keep this economy moving.

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Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 10 July 2024 09:08 PM

These workers have enough money for drugs and alcohol. These guys are just following NPP orders to strike.

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Dee Wednesday, 10 July 2024 09:58 PM

Dude! The blokes who strike has no clue of taxes. We pay their salaries! Parliamentarians are only 225. We have over 1.5 million state employees. That’s about 7% of the total population. They get all the benefits, unlike the private sector. And please don’t refer to them as ‘working population’ they work less than 50%!

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Politicians are Over Spending Wednesday, 10 July 2024 08:55 PM

You so called politicians are the cause of this mess. You all are spending on unnecessarily projects and having huge expenses. Having branded vehicles, huge security details, globe trotting, Huge Tri Forces is showing everyone there is money for salary hikes. Government sectors are overstaffed is another issue as all are having high perks, salaries and pensions. Those in private sectors don’t strike and are mainly funding you guys by paying high taxes and gaining limited services from the government. If you morons are frugal and live within your means, the citizens will follow accordingly.

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Bernard Jayatilake Wednesday, 10 July 2024 09:38 PM

Conversely, you can use these strikes and agitations as a pretext to postpone the impending presidential election and one wonders whether these are instigated by the ruling party citing chaos and the situation is not conducive to hold a free and fair election and these trade unions and their leaders affiliated to a certain political party are all responsible for this pathetic situation.

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Patcitz Wednesday, 10 July 2024 10:20 PM

If Ranis is thrown away from the seat, everything will be coming to an order, conduct the election before worse could come out of the General Public. Gripping forcibly the seat without the consent

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Don Thursday, 11 July 2024 04:58 AM

Sack all parliamentarians. We only need 15 professionally qualified people in each field and a leader. Then we need qualified competent officials in each ministry. This country can be run easily.

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