Financial Times

Following our comments last week on the chaos and confusion in government ranks, it was a virtual repeat this week: similar scenario with far greater ramifications.

For two to three days the government watched helplessly amidst poor leadership as petroleum trade unions held the country to ransom bringing transportation to a virtual standstill. The dilemma of our workers in war-torn Lebanon was the other crisis.

Just like the previous week … it was hilarious if not for the seriousness or absurdity of the situation … the drama unfolding before us was like a Laurel and Hardy movie or listening to a typical Sunil Perera-baila lampooning politicians. And this time it was a cricketer that started it all!

Ashantha de Mel, a former test paceman cricketer turned political backer who was appointed chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Ltd (CPSTL), was turned away at the gates of the CPC refinery and not permitted to enter.

Workers, goaded by trade unions, went on strike over fears that the company in which the CPC, LIOC and the Treasury have equal stakes – resulting in fuel supplies being frozen. Unions say they were assured by the government that the CPC and the CPSTL would be amalgamated and eliminate the need for two chairmen.

Shortages occured across the island already complicated by the absence for several weeks of fuel at the LIOC sheds. Lines of motorists formed outside fuel stations; clashes broke out; profiteering thrived. Despite the country slowly grinding to a halt, De Mel, said to be close to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, refused to step down.

Fuel strike day 2 – Wednesday: the government is still groping in the dark. Instead of dealing firmly with the strikers – a point raised by many angry motorists with some saying that these workers are “traitors and shouldn’t be tolerated,” former MP Bharatha Lakshman, now an advisor on trade union issues at the President’s office, is assigned (with the blessings of the President or so it seemed at first) to negotiate with the strikers.

Petroleum Minister A.H.M.Fowzie meanwhile says he has submitted a cabinet paper seeking to amalgamate the two companies and thus can’t understand the logic of the strikers and also points out that it didn’t make sense to have two chairmen. Veteran trade unionist Alavi Moulana, currently governor of the Western Provincial Council who says he is a trade unionist first and then a politician, supports the strikers. The good man he is… Lakshman strikes a deal with protestors promising them a positive response to their demands in two weeks. Little or nothing is said about De Mel’s appointment being suspended for two weeks or something on those lines. Long queues continue outside petrol sheds.

The former cricketer then moves court for an enjoining order restraining the trade union from dislodging him saying the Presidential advisor has no power to do so. Despite media pronouncements that the strike has been called off, De Mel’s court action triggers fresh panic on Thursday with queues continuing outside fuel sheds and fears of a possible food shortage emerging due to transportation problems.

The President, according to Fowzie, is furious, wants De Mel to return to work and says he never authorised Lakshman to make such offers. More chaos but thankfully a compromise was reached on Thursday afternoon in court after submissions were heard from union lawyers. The strike ends.

If you watched the news on television or read the newspapers, the confusion and incompetent management of the situation was very evident.

There was no leadership or the country lacked it. Most people had this to say: “take control of the situation. Don’t allow the country to be held to ransom by a group of people.” As usual the JVP had a hand in it.

As near anarchy prevailed, the coming signs were ominous: if the enjoining order is issued will the unions join hands with the CEB workers and railway unions and call a general strike? Will the plantation workers follow suit cashing in on a hapless government running out of control?

These were some of the questions that ran through the public mid-week. It was essentially a question of not knowing what to expect and stocking up on essentials – fuel and food expecting crisis after crisis. The opposition UNP did what they do best – call a press conference and blame the government. No constructive steps, guidance or a piece of advice on how to handle the situation. It was the second week in succession that the government failed the people and caused another dent in the economy.

Thought of the week: Should every Dick, Tom and Harry run to the president to perform his role of troubleshooter for any problem that crops up? Occasionally stepping into a crisis which a minister has been unable to solve is acceptable but Rajapaksa appears to be a troubleshooter for all things, some of which are not helping his own image.

For example he gets involved in the cricket crisis and the furore over TV ads – both of which are not earth-shattering events but stays clear of two bigger problems – the port and petroleum strikes. The last two events cost the country dearly.

JAFF, the garments’ industry body, didn’t wait for the government to deliver the goods.

Showing decisive leadership, the industry body went to the Supreme Court and won an injunction against striking port union workers. The strike was over by then but they made a valid point: We are not going to take this lying down and allow the industry and the economy to suffer. Lessons indeed for Rajapaksa and Co!