A FAILED STRIKE

• The GMOA and the Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union will call off their strike at 8 a.m. today
• Ceylon Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin  maintained that the general strike was a success
• CEB Trade Union Alliance said that CEB employees participated in the strike except for employees attached to the maintenance of power stations
• Some of the vital sectors including transport, port and banks had employees and even past employees reported to work

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama and Ajith Siriwardana  

Thousands of citizens were left severely inconvenienced by the Trade Union action yesterday but the goal of the strike was unsuccessful with groups within the Trade Union’s split on whether the timing of the strike was appropriate. 

At a time when the government was desperately working to get the economy back on track and the tourism ministry portraying the country as a safe destination, many employees went against the general strike by reporting to work, saying that such a strike at this moment would only lead to further suffering of the masses. Some of the vital sectors including transport, port and banks had employees and even past employees reporting to work sending a clear signal to the protestors that not all agreed to cripple the sectors at this moment to have their demands heard.

This also led to the many Trade Union groups calling off their strike at 8 a.m. today and not continuing with it. Accordingly, the Professionals Trade Union Collective including the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) and the Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union will call off their strike at 8 a.m. today.   

However, as expected, the leaders of the Trade Union’s maintained that the strike action was successful, based on several demands, including opposing the government’s tax policy while the government claimed that most of the government services were operational despite the trade union action. Some of the groups that maintained that the strike was a success were Port Public Employees Union General Secretary Niroshan Gorakanage who said that the port services were completely crippled due to their trade union action yesterday. A tense situation was also reported after the Navy was deployed to maintain security in the Port and when the employees clashed with the Navy as they joined the General strike. Niroshan said the Port Authority Chairman had tried to force the employees to work but he had failed.  

Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin was also another leader who maintained that the general strike was a success as he proudly claimed that 100% of schools were closed and many teachers and principals had not reported for duty.  

The CEB Trade Union Alliance Convener Ranjan Jayalal said that the CEB employees participated in the strike except for the employees attached to the maintenance of power stations.  
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation General Secretary, Dr. Ashoka Ranwala, said that except for the members of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation General Union, the members of the rest of the trade unions reported to work.  

Meanwhile, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) Chairman and President of the Ceylon Private Bus Owners Association said that the strike held yesterday was a failure.The air traffic controllers of Sri Lankan airports extended their support to the island wide trade union action by launching a work-to-rule campaign from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. yesterday.    However, aircraft that travel in Sri Lankan airspace at high altitudes, aircraft that have declared an emergency status, medical aircraft that are carrying patients and providing medical support, and aircraft engaged in search and rescue missions were not affected by the strike action.  

Meanwhile, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said most of the government services such as banks, transport, CPC, CEB were operational yesterday.  
BOC General Manager Russel Fonseka confirmed that 265 Bank Of Ceylon (BOC) branches including the Head Office and all divisions functioned, as usual, to serve the public.  
People’s Bank Acting CEO/GM  Clive Fonseka confirmed that 330 Branches out of the 352 were fully functional yesterday.  

Sri Lanka Transport Board Chairman Lalith de Alwis confirmed that all 107 depots functioned according to the regular timetable where out of 8 unions, 7 were fully cooperative, excluding the JVP Union.   CPC Chairman M.U. Mohamed said more than 300 loads of 6,600 liters of petrol and diesel were processed to maintain normal operations.  
The CEB’s Shroff and Cashier Union had notified the CEB General Manager that they would not engage in any union action and had pledged their support to strengthen the country’s economy.  

Trains were also operations with the Railway Department General Manager (GMR) W.A.D.S. Gunasinghe confirming that 21 train services had operated last morning for the convenience of commuters despite the union action.     

• Port Public Employees Union General Secretary Niroshan Gorakanage said that the port services were completely crippled due to their trade union action yesterday