Excuse SLFP CPC TUs who protested: Maithripala appeals to President

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

Former President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday appealed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe to excuse on humanitarian grounds the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) employees attached to the SLFP trade unions, who were taken to task for participating in recent protests.  

He told Parliament that the majority of employees who had been subject to disciplinary action were attached to the SLFP TUs and said he as the SLFP would take the responsibility.  

He requested the President to permit the SLFP TUs to report for duty after summoning them for a discussion or reprimanding them. “They are ready for that. Their families are in a huge crisis now. These employees have not been interdicted or issued any charge sheet against them. They are not permitted to enter the CPC premises,” he said.  

Mr. Sirisena said some Trade Union leaders who gave leadership to the protests had got their names removed from the list. 

• Mr. Sirisena said some Trade Union leaders who gave leadership to the protests had got their names removed from the list