Ports, aviation, water board, electricity, education, health, banking to protest today

22 February 2023 10:36 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 19 Bookmark

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Thousands of professionals attached to the Ports Authority, Civil Aviation, Water Board, Electricity, Education, Health, and Banking sectors have threatened the government that they will come to the Colombo Fort today to protest against the burden put on people.

Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) Spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinge said that this is another signal for the government, and professionals from the above-mentioned sectors have planned to take to the streets on March 1 to launch a massive trade union action.

If the professionals of the said sectors take to the streets after refraining from work, the government should keep in mind that the whole country would come to a standstill as a result of the protest.

Meanwhile, the University Lecturers' Association said that they will provide the maximum preassure to the government while continuing university education. But in the future, we have to stop all these practices. By March, the country will face a very serious situation.

The All-Ceylon Ports General Employees Union (ACPGEU) Niroshan Gorakanage said if the government does not respond to our protest today, we will not hesitate to shut down the whole country by March 1 as planned.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Engineer's Union chairman, Nihal Weeraratne said the salary of the nine percent of CEB engineers is currently at a negative stage. At the end of the month, it does not remain a take-home salary. Seven percent of the engineers' take-home salary is less than Rs. 20,000 We cannot survive with this salary.

Ranjan Jayalal, Convener of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) United Trade Union Alliance, stated that if the government does not listen to us, the only option is to engage in protest activities.

He said a red light will be lit for the government, alerting it to trade union actions. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Comments - 19

Perera K Wednesday, 22 February 2023 10:56 AM

Country Before self

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Thanos Wednesday, 22 February 2023 10:56 AM

Wonder where RW will run off to when the mass will come to Colombo same way they came for GR

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Dee Wednesday, 22 February 2023 11:04 AM

Actually these are the people who are a burden on the masses!

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Prasath Wednesday, 22 February 2023 11:05 AM

Media should call govt employees as "Tax Payer Funded/Financed Professionals" as this sector never paid taxes and there pensions are also tax payers funded, adding to insult they received duty free vehicle permits until the economy crashed. But never forget to strike

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Ram Wednesday, 22 February 2023 11:26 AM

Go People go. You can pressure the President to get on the right track and catch the thieves. Now that the government can be dissolved no way of ousting President by Raja family

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Sunil Wednesday, 22 February 2023 11:39 AM

Way to go! All democracy loving people should protest until this dictator is sent home.

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Sandy Wednesday, 22 February 2023 11:46 AM

People's money is wasted to support underperforming state enterprises , that is a burden on people. Privatization will reduce burden on people.

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Dimantha Wednesday, 22 February 2023 11:51 AM

Sabotaging the economic recovery process. Nothing more nothing less. An engineers' take-home salary is less than Rs. 20,000 only if there are other non tax deductions being made for commitments made by the employee by their own choice. If they are over committed that would be their personal decision and the government cannot be blamed for it. E.g.. If a large loan is taken out for an expensive vehicle the deductions on that is their personal choice. We as a people have enjoyed benefits from the government that it could not afford for far too long. Now these people want those ill-affordable luxuries from the government to keep continuing.

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Hiran Wednesday, 22 February 2023 12:01 PM

If the GMOA is involved we know the hidden hand behind it. Seems the heat is being turned on after all.

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BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 22 February 2023 12:03 PM

These are cowards, none of these fellows have the balls to go and protest in front of Rajapakse's house.

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Blessing Wednesday, 22 February 2023 12:14 PM

We want the democracy to be upheld at any cost and we don't want a dictator to rule us. If they postpone or don't want to hold the LG Election, we have to conclude that democracy is no longer existing in Sri-Lanka.

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Karalasingam Sivalingam Wednesday, 22 February 2023 12:35 PM

We agree burden on people is excessive, country is bankrupt what is the solution to submerge the economy? One member of a family to own only one vehicle, those who have a rental income from more than two properties, the rest of the properties to be subject to a levy a tax of 50% of the rental income, goods/items produced with locally produced raw materials and vegetables/fruits etc; to be sold at prices prevailed prior to rupee depreciation. Businesses, hoteliers ,restaurants, grocery shops,vegetable /food producers to reduce prices by 50%, say kollikutu banana now sold at 600/kg, a locally produced fruit, everybody is exploiting the situation to gain maximum profit,invariably hitting the down troden people and finally blaming the rulers. I appeal to the protesters to forward solutions that could be implemented to ease the burden on the masses and workers.

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Citizen Wednesday, 22 February 2023 12:46 PM

Privatise ALL government institutions with immediate effect.

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Premalal Perera Wednesday, 22 February 2023 01:04 PM

Initiate recovery action on looted wealth. Arrest the suspects and remand them without bail on charges of financial genocide. Pass ne legislation if Current laws are inadequate. Then, the people will willingly sacrifice to rebuild the country.

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N Selvakkumaran Wednesday, 22 February 2023 01:10 PM

The people who are demanding elections to the local bodies are suffering from selective amnesia. They do not demand elections to the Provincial Councils which have been not in existence for over 3 to 4 years; nor have they forgotten that the LA elections had been postponed many times in the past and they did not utter a word about those postponements! Now that the President has the power to dissolve Parliament, people should demand the dissolution of Parliament so that the People can make a change to the national politics of this country. No point in demanding for the local authorities polls.

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Dee Wednesday, 22 February 2023 01:37 PM

These people who protest day in day out demanding freebies are the very reason why everyone is suffering today!

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Sam Silva Wednesday, 22 February 2023 07:16 PM

Not quite if you compare all the looted money that was stolen from these people who are demanding freebies. You are very lucky not to be one of them.

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ap ap Wednesday, 22 February 2023 01:43 PM

really Rw never consider about life of poor people only concern to remain in power and protect MR family if they can increase the price of goods and services as they think without thinking poor people ........is it difficult to run their power hungry period?

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Amaran Wednesday, 22 February 2023 01:47 PM

privatise SRI LANKAN AIRLINES. Let a board of directors decide the strategy. How did they pay December BONUS? In case MR comes back to power, they will misuse the Airline by appointing their family members to top post with high salary.

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