Governing party trade union leaders clash

Wednesday, 29 May 2013 

A clash had taken place between trade union leaders of the governing party at a party organized by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa to show his appreciation to the governing party members who organized a protest march on the 15th simultaneous to the protest organized by opposition parties and trade unions against the increased electricity tariffs.

Head of the SLFP trade unions, Leslie Devendra had clashed with Basil Rajapaksa’s coordinator for trade union affairs, Siripala Amerasinghe at the function. Devendra had told Amerasinghe that he would be assaulted if he did not leave the venue immediately.

Devendra had been angered that a group affiliated to Basil Rajapaksa was sending media releases and holding press conferences after ignoring the traditional SLFP trade unions.

Basil Rajapaksa’s trade union affairs coordinator, Siripala Amerasinghe serves as the chairman of the Timber Corporation. He was a former JVP parliamentarian and the former head of the Inter Company Employees’ Union.

It is Amerasinghe who has been assigned the task of responding on behalf of the government to media statements issues by the JVP trade unions.

Devendra has said that the SLFP trade union leaders have to now dance to the tune of JVPers who had killed Panditha and other trade union leaders.

Wennappuwa PS member assaults two

2013-05-29 

Two individuals who have sustained injuries allegedly after being assaulted by a member of the Wennappuwa Pradeshiya Sabha have been admitted to hospital, the Police Media Unit told Ceylon Today Online.

The incident had occurred at the Kammala area in Wennappuwa.  

The Wennappuwa Police have commenced an investigation into the incident, based on a complaint lodged by the injured persons. (Ceylon Today Online)