ABSTRACT
Trade unions in Sri Lanka emerged out of the struggle for independence from colonial powers. Older models of trade unionism in developing countries have highlighted trade union links to nationalist movements (Bates 1970), as well their duality of purpose in balancing member interests and the requirements of nation building (Galenson 1958). Of the 1,604 trade unions registered in Sri Lanka (Department of Labor 2005), the majority are close affiliates of ideologically diverse political parties. This modern industrial relations system, shaped by colonial needs to institute a compliant labour subject and mitigate the effect of political pressure, has been described as a ‘politicized multi-union model,’ typical of South Asia (Kuruvilla and Erickson 2002; Biyanwila 2004; Fernando 1988).
