GMOF applauds new anti-terror law, urges prez to tackle ‘TU terror’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Amidst growing opposition to the proposed Anti-Terrorism Law that it could be used to suppress political dissent and trade unions, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, Deputy Director of the National Hospital yesterday (04) bravely declared that the government should enact the new law fast.

Speaking on behalf of the Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) Dr. Bellana said that the vast majority of the population wanted the government to deal with what he called trade union terror.

Dr. Bellana said that as the public sector trade union movement was on the rampage the government should enact new legislation to meet the challenge.

The medical administrator found fault with the government and all political parties represented in parliament for their pathetic failure to rein in trade unions’ law unto themselves behaviour. Whatever their differences over political, economic and security issues, they couldn’t allow the public sector to cause further debilitation.

Asked whether he also opposed the ongoing public sector trade union campaign against Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government’s new tax formula, Dr. Bellana said that it should be reversed. Declaring the new tax regime was unacceptable under any circumstances, Dr. Bellana said he opposed taking hapless people hostage in a bid to pressure the government.

Regardless of a massive mandate received by Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the last presidential election in Nov 2019 followed by SLPP’s landslide victory at the parliamentary poll in Aug 2020, the President failed to exploit the situation. Had the President paid attention to issues at hand, he could have realised the need to revamp the public sector and rein in trade unions, Dr. Bellana said.

The proposed anti-terrorism law was nothing but a dire necessity, Dr. Bellana said, adding that President Wickremesinghe should go ahead with it. The trade unionist urged Opposition political parties not to shed crocodile tears for trade unions and media but throw their weight behind the proposed legislation.

Recent reportage of trade union activity exposed their terrorist like strategies, therefore they shouldn’t expect any mercy from the government, Dr. Bellana said. Responding to another query, Dr. Bellana alleged that some trade union leaders and senior representatives lived in luxury. “Some of them are in the habit of taking as much as Rs 200,000 to arrange a transfer or someone to secure a lucrative appointment,” Dr. Bellana said.

“I’m not afraid to say that the health sector is one of the most corrupt here,” Bellana said, urging the public to be cautious of utterly corrupt elements masquerading as trade unionists.

Dr. Bellana said that unless President Wickremesinghe received the backing of the parliament to strengthen law enforcement, the country could plunge into chaos. Having been elected as the President last July to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, the UNP leader had taken necessary measures to control those causing mayhem. The proposed introduction of anti-terrorism law seemed a step in the right direction, Dr. Bellana said, demanding that the Opposition stopped playing politics.