More than 1,000 workers of the Colombo Port and heavy equipment, including cranes, have been moved out from the premises for pro-government election activities, hampering day-to-day operations of the port, trade union officials said. The allegation came as the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday resolved to provide legal assistance to any groups or [...]

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Port workers for poll work; labour hired; officials deny

BASL offers free legal service against abuse of state resources for election activities
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More than 1,000 workers of the Colombo Port and heavy equipment, including cranes, have been moved out from the premises for pro-government election activities, hampering day-to-day operations of the port, trade union officials said.

The allegation came as the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday resolved to provide legal assistance to any groups or individuals to initiate action against the misuse of state property during the polls campaign.

The decision was taken at a Bar Council meeting yesterday.

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya this week issued a circular prohibiting the misuse of state property during the campaign period.

BASL President Upul Jayasuriya said the decision was taken in view of a series of incidents where state resources and public servants were being used for the election campaign.

“We also hope to file action against officials who allow the misuse of state property in their respective departments or ministries,” he said.
The port union officials said the removal of port workers and equipment for polls work had affected work at the Jeya Container Terminal, prompting the authorities to hire labour from private engineering companies.

The workers moved out of the port include maintenance workers and welding plant employees. They have been sent to other areas for ‘official work’, but such areas have no port-related work, the union officials said.

An official complaint has been made by the United National Party-controlled Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya. It has complained to the Auditor General’s Department and Internal Auditors about the misuse of state employees. The union has also sent a list of the names of employees who have been moved out of the port.

They have been given attendance sheet to mark their attendance as they cannot use the finger scanning machine at the Colombo port.
In addition, a programme to recruit more employees to the Port has been launched. Most of them have been sent to the Hambantota Port, the union claimed.

Ports Authority Chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrema denied the allegations by the trade union, but union members said there was documentary evidence to support their allegations.

Ports Ministry Secretary Ranjith Premasiri said he was unaware about the reported malpractices and would check with the relevant departments.

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