The Island
The main trade union office of the Ceylon Petroleum Common Service Union (CPCSU) was attacked by an unidentified gang on Tuesday midnight. The office is located between two main security barriers within the CPC premises. The media spokesman of the union and an executive officer of the CPC D. J. Rajakaruna was also attacked by a person attached to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s trade union at the Muthurajawela storage complex of the CPC, the union alleged.
President of the CPCSU Ashoka Ranwala told The Island that the gang came to the premises for the attack in a van bearing registration WPNA-6150. Two individuals, accompanied by an Executive Officer of the Security Division of the Corporation, and they attacked the office and damaged all its furniture and windows. They had damaged cut outs too. The group had damaged the office using clubs and other implements.
“According to our members the van entered through the first Security barrier at 12.42 a.m. and left at 12.48 a.m. The supporters of the government in the CPC did this to stop our ongoing protest against the government’s delay in increase our salaries,” Ranwala said.
D. J. Rajakaruna, when contacted by The Island said that he was attacked in front of the security officers on Tuesday morning, but they didn’t take any action to stop it. After both attacks on the office and himself, they complained to the security department of the CPC. But, they turned a blind eye on the issue.
Minister of Petroleum and Petroleum Resource Development A. H. M. Fowzie, when contacted by The Island, said he was not aware of the incident. He promised an impartial investigation.