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by Ranga Jayasuriya

Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday pledged to launch a combined Opposition protest against what he called anti-people proposals of the Government's maiden budget.

Drawing special attention to the proposed amendments to the Industrial Dispute Act and the Termination of Employment Act, which he said would jeopardize the job security of workers, Rajapakse said all pro-people political parties and trade unions irrespective of their petty differences should join hands to fight against them.

"Proposed amendments are solely to satisfy the big businessmen who had been forcing the last Government too for that. Their pressure resulted the 'Labour Charter' delaying. The UNF Government is now going to fulfil their demands which are definitely disastrous to the working class," he said at a rare combined opposition press conference.

LSSP leader Batty Weerakoon, New Left Front Leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara, EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda, PLOTE leader D. Sidharthan, Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana, MP. S. Sathasywam and a number of trade unionists attended the press briefing.

Claiming that the PA did not accept privatisation as a governing principle - though certain privatisation programs were carried out during the PA reign - former Minister Batty Weerakoon said the UNF Government through its maiden budget had hinted that it would go back to the 'disastrous policies of 1977'.

PLOTE leader Sidharthan said his party supported the budget while they knew it clearly that it would give nothing to the working class since they needed to support the Government's peace bid.

Trade Unionist turned politician Moulana said the Opposition should force the Government to implement the proposals of the Tissa Devendra Committee Report to increase the salaries of public servants.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara said the working class should unite irrespective of their past conduct to fight against the anti-people proposals of the budget while it remain supportive to the peace process. 

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