Non Cabinet Road Passenger Transport Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna’s last minute struggle prevented a strike by SLTB workers who gathered opposite the Narahenpita Headquarters and staged a protest against the alleged plans by the Government to take over the private provident fund which holds their monies.

Over a thousand members representing unions of the three main parties SLFP, UNP and JVP, attended the picketing that continued for two hours until Minister Alagiyawanna issued a written assurance that funds in the Private Provident Fund would not be touched. Agitators came from provincial SLTB workshops from remote areas including Kurunegala, Matale, Kandy, Galle and Medwachchiya, the organizers said.

The JVP-led All Ceylon Transport Workers’ Union (ACTWU) has still not withdrawn its threat to launch an islandwide strike, paralyzing the public sector transport network unless the government revoked the Cabinet memorandum seeking to take over the PPF.

Minister Alagiyawanna, who gave an assurance to maintain the status quo in the absence of Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, currently out of the country, later said: "We had a successful discussion with the SLTB staff. They agreed not to strike."

ACTWU General Secretary Sepala Liyanage said: "The PPF has six billion rupees. The government intends getting its hands on it. We would not allow the Treasury to take over the fund as it too would suffer a similar fate as that of the failed Mihin Air venture."