Anura promises relief to political victims

by Anjana Gamage

Tourism and Industries Minister Anura Bandaranaike yesterday promised prompt solutions to all employees of the Ministry who had undergone political victimisation during the 2001 - 2004 period.

The final committee report of the politically victimised personnel in the Ministry was handed over to Minister Bandaranaike at Visumpaya by Amaradasa Gunawardena, private secretary to Deputy Minister Arjuna Ranatunga.

According to Ministry sources, the committee has received 146 applications and 113 persons are expected to be compensated.

These 113 comprise employees from the Hotel Cooperation- 46 from the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB)- Lanka Ceramics (15)- Lanka Phosphate (27)- Eppawala(35) Kahatagaspathala (35) BOI (2), Ministry of Industry -1.

"Within months, we called all these applicants and conducted an impartial inquiry. We noted down their evidence and also suggested the proposals to the Minister as well.

There were those who had been removed from their jobs, those who had been denied their due promotions, employees transferred in an unjust manner, those who had been threatened against reporting for work and employees who had been physically attacked," an Industry Ministry official said. " We have suggested all of them be treated with fairness.

The report will be presented to the Cabinet shortly after which relief would be granted to the politically victimised employees," he said.

The committee was headed by Deputy Minister Arjuna Ranatunga and comprised Secretary to the Ministry of Industry Dr. U. Vidanapathirana, Additional Secretary D.P. Devapriya, Coordinating Secretary Justin Navaratne and attorney-at-law Ananda Kasturiarachchi.