Petroleum trade union leaders are seeking the intervention of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to bail them out of an unexpected situation where twenty of them were sent on compulsory leave by the authorities.
They were sent on compulsory leave for having obstructed the workers and incited their fellow employees to join the strike against the restructuring of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the decision to allow three new fuel distributors to engage in retail distribution, reducing the monopoly enjoyed by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
The trade unionists, after a meeting with the former President, expressed hope that the former President would intervene to bail them out of their present predicament.
Altogether twenty people, including four trade union leaders who obstructed fuel distribution, were placed on compulsory leave as of the 29th instant.
Accordingly, they were also banned from entering the petroleum corporation’s premises and the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal.
In addition to the employees on compulsory leave, the trade union leaders had also been to the former President’s official residence in Wijerama Mawatha today to discuss the matter with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The main issue was the inclusion of several employees along with those trade union leaders sent on compulsory leave. The trade union leaders belong to the ruling SLPP.
Out of the 20 who were sent on compulsory leave, all 19 have joined the discussion, except Ashoka Ranwala, president of the Petroleum General Employees Union.
SLPP Member of Parliament Gamini Lokage also joined the discussion.
