Recruitment to the public service in the Eastern province is still being carried out on the ethnic ratio system based on a Public Administration circular, contrary to a Supreme Court ruling, an Eastern Provincial Councillor has complained.
According to the Supreme Court order, the provisions of the Public Administration Circular in this regard were deemed inconsistent, as they violated certain fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens under the Constitution.
UNP councillor A. Sasitharan raised this issue while speaking at the Eastern Provincial Council meeting last Tuesday. “Such recruitment based on ethnicity is a serious malpractice and a lot of people are being affected by such action,” he said.
He said that recruitment should be based on merit, following the Supreme Court ruling.
However, persons have being appointed to the public service in the East based on the ethnic ratio system, Mr. Sasitharan said.
He added that although the matter was raised several times, including at a previous PC meeting in June and an explanation for this action sought, the answer provided by the Provincial Public Service Commission has not been satisfactory.
“This is what has been happening in the East since 1998. When I raised this issue at the meeting on Tuesday, many members were able to understand the situation. Now they are aware a Supreme Court order is in place,” he said.
He added that affected persons should be compensated. | 
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