Port workers on strike: Give me that, give me that, give me that Banana

Unrest erupted at the Jaya Container Terminal of the Colombo Port early yesterday after Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) workers went on strike because they were not served the usual banana with their meal.

SLPA workers are already incensed over the controversial event hosted this week by Ports and Aviation State Minister Premalal Jayasekara. That event, hosted on January 9, saw more than a dozen Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa being entertained on board an SLPA vessel, allegedly at state expense. Mr. Jayasekara denied this after hidden cell phone camera footage of the party went viral on social media and was picked up by television channels. He held a news conference to claim much of the expenses had been borne by his personal funds.

Many SLPA workers appear to believe otherwise, as shown by their angry reaction to the failure to give them the bananas. It is reported that the workers decided to go on strike, saying that if ministers and MPs could go on tours and joy rides in the port, there was no excuse for authorities failing to give them the banana that they always got with their meals.

The disruption over the banana matter lasted for almost four hours before employees went back to work. The matter was later conveyed to the Presidential Secretariat, which instructed those in charge to first find out whose fault it was that the bananas had not been given and to take action against them. Secondly, they have also been instructed to identify from the roster employees who took part in the strike and take disciplinary action against them, noting that the courts have already issued an enjoining order preventing trade union action from interrupting operations at the port. The president’s office has also instructed officials to file a motion in court and inform it that a group of employees had gone on strike in violation of the court order. This is tantamount to contempt of court.

“Just another day in bananaland,” a senior official quipped when asked about the turmoil over boat rides and bananas.