Ports employees' strike over ... but who's going to pay loss of lakhs dollars the ship Company is demanding?

The protest launched by ports workers of Hambantota came to a close yesterday with the employees reporting for duty. It was also revealed that their employment would be made secure with the Chinese Company offering employment. Whatever it is, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasingha mentioned that a bill has been forwarded demanding a sum of 4 lakhs dollars for the loss sustained by the shipping Company called "KLine".  The Prime Minister who asked who it is who is going to pay that money and added that it would become a big issue if, like this shipping Company other shipping
Companies too demand funds to settle the losses. 

This is what he said: "This strike was launched with employment as its cause. Operations of Hambantota Ports is not carried out by the Ports Authority. It is by the Personnel Management Company of Magampura Port. Operations of Hambantota Port will now be handed over to a new Company. One of the other partners is the China Merchant Company. The other shareholder will be the Ports Authority. So workers in the port have come up with an issue regarding their employment. What the Minister spoke about it was that he would discuss this matter with the China Merchant Company. What they said was that under the present existing conditions all of them would be absorbed into the new Company. Whatever it is, these people don't agree with the conditions. What they said was that they want appointments at the Ports Authority. The Colombo Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya said that it is useless to give employment to those from Beliatta. Even now it's the Ports Authority that is called upon to pay the loss at Hambantota Port. 

These employees retained 2 international ships by compulsion during the course of the strike. Shipping Companies spoke to me and informed me that the ships are stuck in that place and that it's not possible to get them back. They insisted that the ships could be harmed at the hands of the strikers and therefore to provide safety to those ships. There were hardly any ships that arrived at Hambantota Port during the past period. It was with great endeavour two or three ships were brought there. In the future with the development of the port it will be possible to get down further ships. With this background, because ships were kept back by force now KLine Shipping Company has sent us a bill of dollars 4 lakhs  mentioning about the loss encountered by them. Now who is going to pay this? Other ships also may claim the loss they sustained. 

One reporter has lodged a complaint with Tangalle Police about the problem faced by a mediaman. But actually it's Hambantota Police to whom the complaint should be made. It's a fisheries port which is there at Tangalle. This is a safety zone; therefore everyone who enters should obtain permission. Another complaint has been received that the mediaman concerned has not obtained permission. Whoever has violated the law; steps would be taken to take action against him. I thank the Navy Commander and the Naval Forces for having carried out the duty of rescue operations of the ships at that critical hour.