By Sarath De Silva

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Saturday that threatening trade union leaders and attacking protesters had become the order of the day under the present government.

Addressing the media at Thalawathugoda, the former President said: “Whenever trade unionists stage demonstrations or come out with their demands, the first response of the government is to call them the men of Mahinda Rajapaksa. After sticking that label, the government attacks them as if it were legal to attack my supporters.”

Rajapaksa said that the government issued various threats to silence the media. “If the media continue to criticize the wrongdoings of the government their proprietors are threatened. But the government should learn that media and trade unions could never be silenced as they would find ways and means of voicing their dissent.

Former President Rajapaksa said the government was trying to outsource the ambulance service to India. “That is a great injustice to Lankan entrepreneurs. There is an ambulance service in each hospital today. What will happen if the government hands this over to India?

Large number of Sril Lankans will lose their jobs and the profit would go to India. We tell the government not to deprive Sri Lankans of their job opportunities.”

The media conference had been organized by Provincial Council Member and General Secretary of All Ceylon Samurdhi Development and Agricultural Officers Association, SA Jagath Kumara, whose house was attacked on Feb 18 by an unidentified group after he had criticized the government.

Samurdhi officers’ unionist Kumara addressing media said: “I complained to the police and they just visited my house but did not take action to provide me with enough security. My life is in danger. Objective of attacking me and my properties seem to be to silence our voice.”

Courtesy:The Island