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

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.