Loss incurred at port of Colombo 17 vessels diverted due to TU protest: Nimal Siripala de Silva

• Port employees, unlike other state employees, earn a monthly salary of over Rs. 171,000, three meals free of charge, a huge bonus and other benefits

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

Seventeen ships which had arrived at Colombo Port turned back due to the recent protest by the port trade unions, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said yesterday.   He told Parliament that despite tremendous efforts made to bring them back to port  he only managed to bring a few of them back. 

 “I discussed with shipping agencies to bring the ships back to the port. But, only managed to bring a few of them back,” he said.  

The Minister said the protests by port employees will only result in the deviation of business from Colombo port to nearby ports such as India, Dubai and Singapore.  
“If port employees continue to protest, our port will collapse while ports in countries close to us will flourish,” he said.  

The Minister said port employees, unlike other state employees, earn a monthly salary of over Rs. 171,000, three meals free of charge, a huge bonus and other benefits.