Government, semi-government employees subjected to political victimisation Cabinet appointed committee on redress commences

By Yoshitha Perera     

The cabinet appointed committee on redress to government and semi-government employees who were subjected to political victimisation administratively during the ‘Yahapalana’ government, commenced its work yesterday.  Addressing a media briefing, the chairman of the committee, Irrigation and Rural Industries Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana said that the cabinet had appointed the above committee on the directions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.  “The committee will investigate into the political matters which occurred to government and semi-government workers in an administrative level during the tenure of the ‘Yahapalana’ government,” Minister said.  He said that during the previous ‘Yahapalana’ government era, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)’s  head office had received many complaints from the victims who were subjected to political victimisation administratively during the period of the previous government .

   
“We had received many complaints from government and semi-government employees. We will publish an advertisement in the newspapers mentioning the criteria on accepting complaints. After that the victims can lodge their complaints to the committee,” he said.   

However, when a question was raised on why the committee had limited the period of investigation to only the previous ‘Yahapalana’ government, the minister said that the committee had not narrowed down the time frame only to the period of the previous government. “The victimised employees who served during any government and undergone victimisation can lodge their complaints to this committee,” he elaborated.  The four member committee is chaired by Irrigation and Rural Industries Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and includes former ministry secretary P.A.M. Mahinda Seneviratne, former deputy director-general (administration) of Road Development Authority Ariyaratne Arumaperuma and secretary of Irrigation and Rural Industries Ministry Chaturika Wijesinghe, as committee members.