‘Can the President Rajapakse government which has only a negligible majority and which faces a major economic crisis act like the J.R government which had 5/6th majority in parliament. Rajapakse government uses the war as a political strategy to divert the focus of the people from their day to day economic problems.’
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- Thinakkural Editorial
(July 09, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A question uppermost in every one's mind is whether the government will declare July 10th as a public holiday, since the government adopted a similar strategy and closed schools for 2 days following a decision by the teachers to launch a sick note protest for 2 days.
Trade unions of the JVP had called for a general strike on July 10th demanding a salary increase of Rs 5000. Political observers say that this is going to be broad based general strike like the one that was staged in 1980. It is going to be a test of political strength.
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- Thinakkural Editorial
(July 09, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A question uppermost in every one's mind is whether the government will declare July 10th as a public holiday, since the government adopted a similar strategy and closed schools for 2 days following a decision by the teachers to launch a sick note protest for 2 days.
Trade unions of the JVP had called for a general strike on July 10th demanding a salary increase of Rs 5000. Political observers say that this is going to be broad based general strike like the one that was staged in 1980. It is going to be a test of political strength.
The proposed general strike is compared to the 1980 July general strike, which was crippled by the then President Jayawardena with all the might of his government proclaiming the emergency regulations. The UNP government headed by Jayawardena dismissed all the employees that took part in the strike. It is not an open secret that thereafter several trade unions were reluctant to engage in strikes.
Can the President Rajapakse government which has only a negligible majority and which faces a major economic crisis act like the J.R government which had 5/6th majority in parliament. Rajapakse government uses the war as a political strategy to divert the focus of the people from their day to day economic problems.
There is a political culture in the South to portray all demonstrations against the Rajapkse administration as being against the sovereignty of the country.
On the one hand, the proposed strike is going to be a serious challenge to the government. On the other hand, JVP needs to display its strength in the field of trade unions.
(An English translation of the Editorial in Thinakkural, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo)
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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