Strong TU support for President

UNP suppressed Trade Unions:

Chaminda Perera

Over 64 main trade unions representing the entire workforce in the country yesterday assured their fullest support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming Presidential Election.

The representatives of these trade unions numbering over 15,000 made this strong pledge at a meeting at Temple Trees yesterday. They voiced their anger on how the UNF led Government attempted to slash the public service during their rule.

They said President Rajapaksa focused equal attention on the country's development and the welfare of the workforce while commanding a massive war against separatism.

Addressing the gathering, President Rajapaksa said the UPFA Government has never suppressed trade union action nor deprived the working class's rights.

President Rajapaksa said he is committed to bring permanent peace to the country. "Peace can not prevail in the country without development. We have the responsibility of rebuilding this country in a way that the people of all communities could live in peace with dignity.

"We laid the foundation for the country's development while wiping out terrorism. The Government is in the process of developing five harbours for the first time in the country's history.

"The UNF Government under Ranil Wickremesinghe wanted to slash the public service but our Government was able to increase the public service strength from 0.6 million to 1.2 million, he said.