Colombo, Sri Lanka: The country is plunged into a mire of economic crisis. Due to the price hike of essential commodities, the cost of living has increased. Meanwhile public servants are on strike over frivolous matters.

Railway employees have given a notice for a 98 hour strike. The private bus owners have threatened to go on strike if their demand to raise the bus fares consequent to the fuel price hike is not allowed by the government.

Any attempt to cripple the government at this hour is considered inhuman. Such issues are normal in private or public sectors. Trade unions and their leadership must strive to solve them through mutual understanding and mutual discussions rather than going on strike for trivial demands.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Fawzi has said that people must sue the workers who resort to such strikes. His views reveal the inability of the government to solve the crisis .Government should not incite people against workers who take direct action to win their demands, exercising their legitimate trade union rights.

It is obvious that the government lacks a co-ordinated and planned economic policy and a plan-implementation The government must create a congenial atmosphere for economic prosperity and growth without dilly dallying.

An English translation of the editorial in Thinakkural, a Tamil National Daily, based in Colombo

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