EDCS Interim Board lawful - spokesman

Irangika RANGE

The Interim Board appointed by Co-operative Commissioner to handle the functions of the Education Employees Co-operative Thrift and Credit Society Limited (EDCS) is lawful and will continue to exercise the mandate given to it under the law.

A spokesman for the Interim Board said that the previous director board which represented the Lanka Teacher Services Union was prevented from performing the functions of the EDCS by the Western Province Appeal Court through a stay order.

The present Co-operatives Commissioner took measures to appoint the Interim Board to perform the functions of EDCS.

The spokesman said that members of the Lanka Teacher Services Unions backed by the JVP have protested against the decision and commenced a massive agitation campaign to obstruct the functions of the current Interim Board.

The union is resorting to violent and vicious protests obstructing the board's functions and putting the Interim Board members in a difficult situation.

The spokesman said the current Interim Board is successfully performing its duties by fulfilling public needs under the law until a new director board is elected.

He said that gangs armed with rods and poles had attacked the EDCS head offices in the North Central Province and Uva Province. These gangsters have acted violently, assaulting and making death threats to Interim Board members while damaging public properties.

He said the Police in Badulla and Anuradhapura are investigating to bring the culprits to book.