No support for anti-trade union government, says JVP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 06:25 GMT]
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Sinhala extreme nationalist party that holds 38 seats in the Sri Lankan parliament, on Manday said it would withdraw its support to the United Peoples' Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government if it suppresses trade union rights.

Lal Kantha, the JVP trade union leader and onetime minister in the then UPFA government led by former President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga, addressing a press briefing held Monday at Sri Lanka Foundation College, said trade unions in four key institutions, the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA), Ceylon Government Railways (CGR), Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would form an alliance to strengthen their bargaining power and used their combined effort to defeat the government if it brings laws to suppress rights of "working class."

"We warn the government that it would have to face to full-scale strike in the public sector in the next two to three months if it fails to resolve legitimate demands of the working community through negotiation without giving room for reactionary forces," said Mr.Lal Kantha.

Conspiracy is taking place within the ruling UPFA to defeat the government. Vested elements in the government are trying to create a clash between the government and the working class, said Mr.Lal Kantha.

"The collapse of the current UPFA government is imminent if it acts against the welfare of working community on the advice of some Cabinet ministers," Lal Kantha said.

The JVP suffered a major setback in the local elections held in March.