Enjoining order against ALFEA

Sandasen MARASINGHE

Colombo District Judge Sampath Wijeratne issued an enjoining order restraining the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) and eight others from obtaining affidavits from its members stating that the members would not sue the association on whatever grounds if the membership of a member was suspended.

The Court also directed the Chairman, Secretary and eight others of the ALFEA to hold the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2009/10 and elect the office-bearers under the supervision of the Foreign Employment Bureau.

The Court issued these orders following Decksters Commercial Services Pvt Ltd, a member of the ALFEA filing a plaint before the Court alleging that the defendants of this case were acting in violation of the provisions of Association's constitution and of the Foreign Employment Bureau Act.

The plaintiff cited ALFEA and 10 others as respondents. The plaintiff submitted that the Chairman and the Secretary of ALFEA obtained an affidavit on behalf of the ALFEA from its members stating that they would not sue the association on whatever grounds if the membership of a member was suspended.

The plaintiff submitted that the ALFEA should hold the Annual General Meeting and elect its office-bearers in January each year and the office-bearers could remain in the office only for a period of one year according to the provisions of the Constitution of the Association and the Foreign Employment Bureau Act.