Hold the Presidential election first - Trade union resolved unanimously

Hold the Presidential election first instead of the Parliamentary general elections. This was resolved unanimously.

At the seventh National Convention of the SLFP oriented Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya held at the Temple Trees yesterday, it was unanimously resolved to recommend holding first the Presidential election.

They have also urged that the Parliamentary General Election should follow, after holding the presidential election.

This resolution was adopted unanimously by 3426 representatives of the SLNSS - the trade union affiliated with the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which met yesterday at the Temple Trees, presided over by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the President of the ruling party affiliated trade union.

The theme of the convention was ‘Prosperous Nation - Contented Workforce’.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced at the seventh National Convention, amidst loud applause of the gathering, that Government will grant a salary increase to all public sector employees from January next year.

President Rajapaksa said: “We have been able to end a destructive war which engulfed the nation for nearly three decades. During this period, the working class extended its unstinted support and co-operation to the Government. While engaged in the humanitarian war to free the Nation from terrorism, I made one request from the working class."

"I called upon them to have patience and bear with us until the end of this year and that we would reciprocate by doing our duty towards you after ending the war,” President said.

The President said: “Now we will be granting the salary increase to you all from January next year. These increments will be of retrospective effect from November this year.

Along with Mahinda Rajapaksa, Alavi Moulana, Governor of the Western Province, a veteran trade unionist, who is the Vice President of the Trade Union and General Secretary Leslie Devendra participated in the the seventh National Convention held in the lawn of the Temple Trees, in Colombo.

Labour Minister Athauda Senavirathna, Highways Minister T. B. Ekanayake, Director of the International Labour Organization (Sri Lanka and Maldives) Tine Staerrnose, and several others also were present.

Alavi Moulana speaking to Asian Tribune told that after the national convention of the SLFP affiliated trade union, the Joint Council of the Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) affliated Trade Unions was held in Colombo presided over by him.

He said 42 delegates of the respective trade unions affiliated with the ruling UPFA participated in the meeting.

Alavi Moulana who presided over the Joint Council meeting said that they have decided to launch a mass picketing campaign on 10th November at 2.30 PM in front of the Fort Railway station to show their solidarity with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

- Asian Tribune -