Mahinda Yapa bowled over

WEDNESDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2013

The Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene earlier said Indian labour had to be used for harvesting purposes in the North and the East and those who come for such work would be provided with tourist visas.

He had said there was an acute shortage of labour and it was specially felt during the paddy harvesting seasons. The Minister had said, “The government is in a very inconvenienced position as it is difficult to get labourers for harvesting in the North and the East as most of our labourers leave to Western Asia, Singapore, South Korea and Italy. Those who have arrived in Sri Lanka with tourist visas are engaged in harvesting activities in the North and the East.”

It is understood that the proposal to issue tourist visas for those who work here as labourers has been forwarded after a report by officials of the Department of Immigration and Emigration toured the North and the East.

However, Minister Mahinda Yapa Apeywardena had later said there were no plans to hire Indian migrant farm workers to meet the shortage of labour during harvesting periods. Minister Yapa had said although there was an acute shortage of labour, there was absolutely no need to hire Indian migrant workers.

The change in the policy would be due to pressure after the media reported the decision by the Minister to issue visas for migrant workers say analysts. This sudden reversal of the decision indicates the bankrupt policy of the government that carries out various functions just to while away the time without any definite programme or action plan they point out.

‘Air Mail’ sold to private company

WEDNESDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2013

The leaders of postal trade unions demand the government to abolish immediately the agreement signed secretly to sell the ‘Air mail’ facility of the Postal Department to a private company. The ‘Air Mail’ facility is the most profitable section of the Postal Department they point out.

Trade union leaders say the government has already signed the agreement to sell the ‘Air Mail’ facility to the private company and it would be the first step towards privatizing the postal sector in the island they point out.

They say they would commence a massive protest movement if the government does not abolish the secret agreement.

Speaking to ‘Lankatruth’ a trade union leader of the postal sector said, “The government has already sold the ‘Air Mail’ facility. The Postal Department maintained the service with the participation of 17 air lines including ‘Srilankan’ air lines.

However, the government has signed an agreement secretly without informing the trade unions to hand over ‘Air Mail’ facility to a private company that has no experience in postal affairs he added.