Main opposition of Sri Lanka threatens to launch nationwide protest against proposed pension scheme

The United National Party (UNP), main opposition party of Sri Lanka has said today a nationwide protest campaign will be organized against the government's proposed private sector pension scheme.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a press conference that the UNP opposed the government's proposed pension scheme for the private sector saying it was not beneficial to the employees.

He said the government was trying to push the proposed scheme without discussing it with the private sector employees, employers, trade unions and opposition political parties.

According to Attanayake, a nationwide protest is to be organized in future against the proposed pension scheme.

He also said that the government has granted salary hikes to directors and other heads of corporations and statutory boards without taking measures to address the issues faced by the university lecturers.

Attanayake added that the government instead of addressing the salary issues of the lecturers has increased the salaries of corporation heads, who are mostly political appointees.