President of the Government Nurses Association Saman Ratnapriya, a man who had represented the United National Party (UNP) in Parliament for a few months during the Good Governance regime only to become an accused towards the selling of a vehicle permit for Rs. 60 million and later buried the history to hail himself as a prominent voice in the anti-government protests, has now been appointed as the Director General of Trade Unions in the Ranil Wickremesinghe led government, leading to ambivalent discussions amongst the trade unions.
Following the shocking arrest of Joseph Stalin, Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union and a fellowship to Ratnapriya in the field of trade unions, yesterday (03) growing objections towards the Nurse Chief’s appointment as the Director General of Trade Unions in the RW regime have hit a boiling point, despite his early comments on extending full support to Stalin against the arrest. Ratnapriya’s claim on all arrangements being made to grant Police bail to Stalin and President Wickremesinghe being informed about it is but hogwash to most of the trade unions now that the Nurses Association President has been given a top government post.
Ratnapriya had stated that the authorities were informed to take necessary steps to bring Stalin before the Court for any legitimate penalisation, had he committed any wrongdoing. He had also emphasised that he will appear before the President on behalf of Stalin at any time. In a twist of fate, Stalin has been apprehended by the government and not Ratnapriya, who had stood with the Ceylon Teachers’ Union Secretary on the protesting ground.
When someone who lacks political independence is appointed for a government position expected to be operated with independence, it cannot be avoided that everything will turn into a bitter mess and the arrest of Stalin yesterday made it very clear.
A number of trade unions are now holding a grudge against Ratnapriya stating that he is not suitable for the post of Director General of Trade Unions in the RW regime in the event that he is a non-staff nurse and is not even capable of managing at least the health unions responding to the Health Sector.
Different ideologies and policies between trade unions lead to the political clashes between the bodies, hence the importance of an independent person being suitable for such a position in the government instead of someone with a clear political influence. But the damage has already been done and whether Ratnapriya acts on rectifying the matter would be a question. Had it been RW’s plan all along to weaken the anti-government protests by placing people like Ratnapriya in the Aragalaya until the right moment, the real struggle of the people will forever remain unresolved.
