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Sabry reiterates trade unions should be regulated

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/5

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC, says specific measures are required to thwart trade unions from disrupting essential sectors.

Acknowledging that trade unions’ right to strike as part of their overall strategy, the SLPP National List MP emphasised the pivotal importance of them, too, being subject to some conditions.

Minister Sabry pointed out that many countries in different regions have adopted measures to prevent destabilisation of essential services much to the discomfort of the public.

The Justice Minister said so when The Island sought his response to strong criticism of his recent call to ban strikes.

Professionals’ National Front (PNF) in a strongly worded letter dated Feb. 03 addressed to the Justice Minister asked him whether the government intended to suppress trade unions. The letter issued under the hand of PNF’s Secretary Kapila Renuka Perera questioned whether Minister Sabry was preparing the ground work to sell the remaining national assets.

MP Sabry told The Island that various interested parties had misinterpreted his original statement on the issue at hand. “Let me stress again, I didn’t call for a total ban on strikes under any circumstances.

Therefore, those who have criticised me for pushing for elimination of strikes should listen to what I told the electronic media recently.”

The Minister said that Sri Lanka could study safeguards adopted by other countries to prevent disruptive trade union actions. Referring to international standards in this regard, Minister Sabry pointed out that trade unions had to consult the entire membership through a ballot and the mandatory requirement to give 14 day notice before going on strike.

Responding to another query, the lawmaker said: “This is my opinion. I have no intention to give up that position.”

The President’s Counsel said that though he hadn’t brought this issue before the Parliament or political authority he strongly believed all stakeholders should give sufficient attention to the crises caused by some trade unions.

Referring to recent Railway strike, Minister Sabry said that a deliberate bid was made to undermine government efforts to attract foreign tourists, at a time the cash-strapped economy was struggling to cope up with current difficulties. Railway strike left over 200 foreigners on their way to Ella stranded on the upcountry line. “We had to arrange buses to take them to the final destination,” lawmaker Sabry said, underscoring that trade union action was obviously taken with one objective to cause chaos, thereby derailing government efforts to revive tourism.

Minister Sabry said that one of those foreigners who had been affected by the Railway strike declared in social media they would never encourage anyone to visit Sri Lanka.

The top lawyer said that the public had been severely inconvenienced due to public sector workers resorting to trade union actions over what the MP called private disputes. There had been instances of public sector strikes due to an altercation between a member of a particular trade union and another representing some other body, MP Sabry said.

The minister stressed that a dialogue was necessary to explore ways and means of reaching a consensus on what he called responsible trade union set-up.

The lawmaker stressed that strikes affected the public, particularly those struggling to make ends meet, certainly not the President and cabinet of ministers. Those who eternally speak of the rights and privileges of the public sector conveniently ignored the rapid deterioration of the public service in spite of significant expansion.

Minister Sabry said that trade unions couldn’t wage war against the administration at the expense of the people. The minister alleged that such strategies had been exercised over the years at the expense of the hapless public while successive governments and Opposition appeared to have not addressed the contentious issue.

Could trade union campaigns be allowed to jeopardise the overall well-being of the people? Minister Sabry asked. Would it be fair for those in the public sector to push for their rights disregarding the suffering of the needy, MP Sabry asked.

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Three arrested with narcotics valued at Rs123 million at BIA

Published

9 hours ago

2026/01/25

Priyan

Three Sri Lankan male passengers who arrived from Muscat by flight no. OV 437 on Saturday (24) have been arrested by officers attached to the NCU at BIA as they were found to be carrying 12,306 grams of Cannabis class narcotics (suspected as Hashish & Kush) valued at 123 million rupees.

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Navy intercepts 02 narcotics-laden trawlers with 11 suspects in southern seas

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/25

Priyan

Building on its success in seizing major narcotic stocks in 2025, the Navy continued to support the “A Nation United” National Mission in 2026. In continuation of these efforts, during an
operation conducted on the high seas south of Sri Lanka, the Navy apprehended eleven (11) suspects aboard two local multi-day fishing trawlers suspected of drug smuggling.

Based on shared information, by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police, this special operation was conducted off the southern coast, deploying the Navy‟s Offshore Patrol Vessels. The operation
resulted in the interception of a multi-day fishing trawler suspected of smuggling narcotics, and the apprehension of five (05) suspects on board.

During further operations in the same area, naval units seized another multi-day fishing trawler (01), along with communication equipment and six (06) additional suspects, also believed to be involved in drug smuggling.

This morning (25 Jan 26), the two intercepted fishing trawlers, along with fourteen (14) sacks laden with suspected narcotics and the suspects, were brought to the Dikovita Fisheries Harbour.

An expert examination by the Police Narcotic Bureau confirmed that the fourteen (14) sacks contained more than 184 kilograms of heroin and over 112 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine).

The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and the Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasuriya, inspected the narcotics at the Dikovita harbour.

The Deputy Minister of Defence said that the current administration has initiated several projects for national development. As a flagship initiative, under the directives and guidance of the President, and under the supervision of the
Ministry of Defence, well-coordinated anti-narcotic raids have been launched.

This effort, part of “A Nation United” National Mission, involves the tri-forces, police, and all intelligence agencies working together under a coordinated plan to ensure that drug smugglers have no opportunity to bring narcotics into the country, he opined. He further stated that despite the national disaster situation, the state machinery, including the tri-forces, the police, and the public at large, remains united in rebuilding the nation, no room will be left for drug trafficking, which poses a severe threat to national security and public safety. Those
who engage in or support drug trafficking, under the cover of fishing activities, will find no escape, he added.

The Deputy Minister also reaffirmed that the tri-forces, police, and all law enforcement agencies are fully committed to their duty of suppressing this menace.

The Deputy Minister of Defence reported that, throughout 2025, a series of highly successful operations were conducted leading to numerous arrests. This was achieved through close coordination and mutual cooperation among the tri-services, the police, the Special Task Force, Police Narcotics Bureau, local law enforcement and international agencies. He noted that this
same spirit of cooperation and commitment has continued into 2026, resulting in the seizure of a large stockpile of drugs.

On behalf of the Honourable President, he extended gratitude to all who contributed to these efforts, specifically acknowledging the Commander of the Navy, the Inspector General of Police, the Police Narcotic Bureau, and the crews of the Navy’s Offshore
Patrol Vessels.

Moreover, the Deputy Minister declared that drug smuggling has become a national crisis, fueled by youth involvement and social crime. With borders secured under the “Nation United” National Mission, he warned traffickers to cease operations and urged users to abandon the destructive habit.

The Deputy Minister urged the public to report suspected drug smugglers to law enforcement via the hotlines 1818 or 1997 and also commended the role of media institutions and journalists in raising public awareness about the dangers of narcotics through responsible reporting.

Meanwhile, the two (02) multi-day fishing trawlers, along with a haul of narcotics, eleven (11) suspects, and communication equipment, were handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for
further investigation and legal proceedings.

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Indonesian Naval Ship ‘KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367’ departs island

Published

12 hours ago

2026/01/25

Priyan

The Indonesian Naval Ship ‘KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367’, which arrived in Sri Lanka for logistics replenishment and a goodwill mission, departed the island on 23 Jan 26.

The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.

During the stay in Sri Lanka, crew members of the ship visited some popular tourist destinations within the city of Colomb