JVP-UNP strike was unsuccessful says the government

Local Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said the Thursday ‘s strike was unsuccessful and it shows utter failure of the JVP and the UNP. Addressing Cabinet press conference held in Colombo on Thursday he said government is ready to face any type of challenge in future. He said government did not block the Thursday’s strike and it has motivated the masses not to attend the strike.
“Entire transport sector and other essential services were normal, he said. He also reiterated that the JVP shows fake data on this strike .
Government MPs asked JVP MP and Trade Union leader K.D. Lalkantha to keep his pledge to resign from his post as MP if Thursday’s general strike fails as they said it had been proven that the strike is a failure.

“It is sad that we will loose a good MP from Anuradhapura because MP Lalkantha has to resign now as he pledged to do on the floor of this House on Wednesday, Deputy Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

Several other government speakers too expressed similar sentiments.
Reports receiving from many parts of the country say that the strike implemented by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the United National Party has been a complete failure. Police Media Spokesman and Senior SP Ranjith Gunasekera said attendance of employees in the city of Colombo and outstations has exceeded 80 percent. The essential services such as transport, health and electricity are being implemented satisfactorily. A special security is also underway. The Ministry of Education says all schools are functioning normally. Additional secretary of the Ministry of Education in the western province said attendance of teachers in the provincial councils is 100 percent.

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board Tudor Dayaratne said 240 additional buses have been deployed for service today.

Additional general manager railways P.H. Silva said all trains are running on schedule as all employees have reported for duty. There is no change in the train timetable in the afternoon as well. Chairman of the western province road passenger authority J.M. Somasiri said no acts of sabotage have been reported in private bus transport in the western province. President of the Ceylon Private Bus Owners Association Gemunu Wijeratne explained that none of the buses of his association are engaged in the strike. He adds that the association rejects strikes of this nature, which are being carried out with political objectives. The Ministry of Health says there are no disruptions in the patients’ treatment in the services in any hospital. The attendance of workers is above 90 percent. A large number of persons were reported to have come forward voluntarily to assist in the treatment in the patients. All trade union members of the JVP at the state pharmaceutical manufacturing corporation have reported to work. A group of thugs belonging to the JVP have caused grievous injuries to three members of the ambulance drivers’ union at the Kandy teaching hospital who refuse to obey the orders of the JVP union leadership to refrain from attending to work. One of the drivers Lalith Jayawardena has been admitted to intensive care union at the Kandy hospital.

Local health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said compensations will be provided to the injured workers and stern action will be taken against those who are responsible for the attack.

Parliamentarian Lal Kantha said in parliament yesterday that he would resign from his parliamentary post as well as from the leadership of the national trade unions center if the strike became unsuccessful. Minister and a deputy organizer of the government Mahindananda Aluthgamage raising a point of order in parliament on Thursday morning inquired from Mr. Lal Kantha whether he will keep his promise.

Chief organizer Horana of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Vidura Wickramanayake said the complete failure of the strike reflects the support of the masses for the programme of the government to develop the country by defeating terrorism. He also extended the gratitude of the government for the intelligence decision taken by the general public not to betray the country for a demand to seek a 5,000 rupee salary increase.
Meanwhile JVP parliamentarian K.D. Lalkantha claimed the strike was 70% successful. He also added that the Trade Unions would meet on Friday to plan a series of strikes.He said this strike is the beginning of series of strike . Lal Kantha told journalists in Colombo that 660 affiliate trade unions and many others have extended their support to the strike.
Our reporters said functions of many state institutions were disrupted as a result of the one-day token strike called by the National Trade Unions Centre and supported by several other trade unions.
Reports said that certain services were carried out by using force on workers, while security forces personnel were seen carrying out services in the health sector.
At the Colombo National Hospital, soldiers were seen doing patient registration.
Other hospitals too, had their outpatient and clinical services at a standstill.
Saman Ratnapriya of the Health Services Trade Union Alliance said that police had arrested two union members at the Angoda Hospital while there were reports of police intimidation from Mulleriyawa, Hambantoda, Trincomalee, and Anuradhapura.

Ratnapriya said despite government scheme to suppress Thursday's strike through "threats, intimidation and negative propaganda.
The island wide strike on Thursday (10) urge the government to increase salaries by Rs. 5000, to grant the cost of living allowance and to decrease the bus and railway fares.