United Corporations and Mercantile Union
Encyclopedia
The United Corporations and Mercantile Union (UCMU) is a Sri Lanka
n trade union
which brings together workers in the public sector.
The UCMU was founded in 1968. Dr N.M. Perera became its President and Anil Moonesinghe
became its General Secretary. Moonesinghe travelled the country from factory to factory building up a union of several tens of thousands of members. One of his lieutenants in this task was Vasudeva Nanayakkara
, who became an MP in 1970. At the 1970 general election, the UCMU also sponsored the candidature of the Chairman of its Vidyodaya University branch, Mahinda Rajapaksa
who was later to become Prime Minister
and then President of Sri Lanka
.
In 1970, when Anil Moonesinghe went to the Ceylon Transport Board
as Chairman, he was succeeded as General Secretary by Percy Wickremasekera
. After the death of Dr N.M. Perera in 1979, Anil Moonesinghe became President.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
which brings together workers in the public sector.
The UCMU was founded in 1968. Dr N.M. Perera became its President and Anil Moonesinghe
Anil Moonesinghe
Anil Moonesinghe was a Sri Lankan Trotskyist revolutionary politician and trade unionist. He became a Member of Parliament, a Cabinet Minister, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a Diplomat. He authored several books and edited newspapers and magazines. He was Chairperson and General Manager of...
became its General Secretary. Moonesinghe travelled the country from factory to factory building up a union of several tens of thousands of members. One of his lieutenants in this task was Vasudeva Nanayakkara
Vasudeva Nanayakkara
Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a veteran left-wing Sri Lankan politician, Member of Parliament and a former presidential candidate.-Politics:Nanayakkara joined the Lanka Sama Samaja Party as student in 1958...
, who became an MP in 1970. At the 1970 general election, the UCMU also sponsored the candidature of the Chairman of its Vidyodaya University branch, Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
who was later to become Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is the functional head of the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. However, the President is both head of state and head of government in Sri Lanka...
and then President of Sri Lanka
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
.
In 1970, when Anil Moonesinghe went to the Ceylon Transport Board
Ceylon Transport Board
The Sri Lanka Transport Board is a bus service provider in Sri Lanka.Between 1958 and 1978, the Ceylon Transport Board was the nationalised enterprise which handled all public bus transport in Sri Lanka. At its peak, it was the largest omnibus company in the world - with about 7,000 buses and...
as Chairman, he was succeeded as General Secretary by Percy Wickremasekera
Percy Wickremasekera
Percy Wickremasekera is Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and trade unionist. He was the General Secretary of the United Corporations and Mercantile Union and a member of the Politburo of the LSSP....
. After the death of Dr N.M. Perera in 1979, Anil Moonesinghe became President.
See also
- Lanka Sama Samaja PartyLanka Sama Samaja PartyThe Lanka Sama Samaja Party is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka....
- Anil MoonesingheAnil MoonesingheAnil Moonesinghe was a Sri Lankan Trotskyist revolutionary politician and trade unionist. He became a Member of Parliament, a Cabinet Minister, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a Diplomat. He authored several books and edited newspapers and magazines. He was Chairperson and General Manager of...