28 March 2010 08:03 am
Controversy clouds the removal of the Directory General of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Mrs. Ramani Jayasuriya by the Minister in charge Bandula Gunawardena with the Polls chief demanding her reinstatement.
Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka has written to the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority Rumy Marzook ordering Mrs. Jayasuriya to be immediately reinstated to her post as her removal violates election laws.
Mrs. Ramani Jayasuriya had claimed in a complaint to the Elections Commission that Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena had removed her from her post as she had failed to carry out election propaganda for the said Minister.
The Elections Commissioner has now written to the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority reminding him that under election laws no State official can be removed from office or transferred with an election at hand and so ordered that she be immediately reinstated.
However when contacted the Minister for Consumer Affairs Bandula Gunawardena told Daily Mirror online that Mrs. Jayasuriya was removed as her term of office had expired and that it was not politically motivated.
The Minister added that the decision to remove her from office was taken by the Consumer Affairs Authority and not him and that as decided her term will not be extended. (Daily Mirror online)