While the opposition parties blamed the government for the CPC strike the pro-government parties called on the trade unions to act in a more responsible manner as the sector was an important one for the country’s security.

Here are the comments made by the spokespersons of various political parties.

JVP MP K. D.  Lal Kantha

It is unfair of the government to suppress people who had held back their economic difficulties to support the war, and have now come forward demanding a pay hike which would suit the increased cost of living.

Their requests are extremely fair and their requests cannot be neglected by the government,” he said, adding that the government had not paid enough concern to the Rs. 5,000 pay hike demanded by the trade unions. 

The expectations of the salary increase had been lost because there was no budget this year. We urge President Mahinda Rajapaksa to directly get involved in the matter as we do not have any belief on the ministers who have already failed to give a solution.

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella

None of the Ministers in the jumbo Cabinet was able to resolve the trade union issue as they had to wait for the President to return from his overseas tour to deal with the trade unions.

The workers should get the increment they ask for as it had been approved by the cabinet. The Government could not give the increment as it is bankrupt.

NFF spokesman Mohamed Muzammil

The demand of the trade unions is a fair one as they had suffered much during the war. They should also see whether the country could afford the increment which they have asked given the situation of the economy.

Petroleum sector is an important one specially with regard to the national security. Therefore the unions should act in a manner which does not affect the nation.

Democratic People’s Front Leader Mano Ganesan

CPC is the life-line of the economy and the government should have taken the matter more seriously. There is no coordination on the part of the government in handling the issue.