The SLPP trade union at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) blamed their party seniors, including former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, for keeping mum when national assets were being sold.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, Bandula Saman Kumara, SLPP trade union leader at the CPC, said it was a puzzle to them as to why their party seniors were being silent on the matter.

Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, the Minister in charge of the matter, is also a stalwart of the SLPP. However, Wijesekera has been lauded by many for his bold action against the trade unions.

A total of 20 trade union leaders, including the SLPP union representatives, have been sent on compulsory leave with immediate effect by the Minister. They have been banned from entering the CPC and the CPSTL premises.

Meanwhile, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said he could not comment on the suspension of their trade union leader. "If there is an injustice, we will oppose the move," Kariyawasam said, when posed a question about the matter.

The General Secretary said no decision had been made so far about the party membership of the trade union leader in question.