Whither Good Governance?
by Ashanthi Warunasuriya
Given below are some of the major concerns that several leaders of trade unions expressed over the present governance.
Ranjan Jayalal – Chief Secretary, National Electricity Workers Association
On the other hand, relatives and friends of the rulers enjoy all the big posts in the government. This is not what we expect from the yayapalaya government. If they continue in this fashion, it will be their downfall.
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Joseph Stalin – General Secretary, Ceylon Teacher Services Union
Prices of essential food items that were reduced at the beginning are now being increased gradually. However, it must be noted that the government has taken some positive attempts to develop sectors such as health and education with loans they received from IMF. There is no difference between SEPA and ETCA. It is a mere name change. So rulers’ objectives are very clear. More focus on privatization.
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Ranga Devapriya – National Association of Socialist Students Union
Padmini Weerasooriya – Women’s Rights Activist
We, however, continue our protest till our rights are met. We brought in a list of concerns, and we need them to take them into account and establish a concrete policy. If the promises are not upheld, we will join hands with the other civil societies and start a massive island wide protest.
If our concerns about the salary increment are not addressed, we will definitely join other groups in this regard. We do not have political affiliations. We work as an independent union.
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Asela Dharamapriya Dissanayake – Secretary, Free Trade Zone and Public Employees and Services Association
Private sector employees requested a salary increment of Rs. 2500, but the Yahapalana government via an interim budget said they could not do it. Still there has not been any change but one year has gone past.
Rs. 2500 salary increment that the Act regulated will be in operation in May. But the trade unions will not allow the authorities to grant employees only Rs. 1500 and to grant the balance in January. Free Trade Zone employees get only Rs. 1000 for the increment. All workers must receive Rs. 2500 salary increase.
Even though the employees were able to bring about a change in governance, their expectations are not met still. By strugging against the government, we are not going to topple the government. Rather we want to educate employees in order to create Yahapalanaya within the government. We want the government to bring in Yahapalayanaya that they promised us.