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servants under attack Reports of public servants being attacked, threatened and abused by ruling party politicians are noting unusual these days, but, the ruling party's disciplinary committee, headed by Minister Karu Jayasuriya, who has built up an image for himself as a disciplinarian, is apparently soft-pedaling cases before it. It appears that politicians expect total submission from ministry secretaries to the reserved police constable even if the command is against the Establishment Code or Administrative Regulations and the lack of any tough disciplinary action has only worsened the situation. The latest incident involving politicians and public servants was the attack on the Bulathsinhala Divisional Secretary allegedly by a ruling party MP. This was apparently, the fourth major incident where a divisional secretary (formerly known as Additional Government Agent) had been attacked or threatened by a politician this year. On January 13, Ratnapura District parliamentarian Mahinda Ratnathilake allegedly threatened the Eheliyagoda Divisional Secretary for not inviting him for a Samurdhi ceremony. On May 28, the Divulapitiya Divisional Secretary was threatened allegedly by area parliamentarian Edward Goonasekara when he defied the latter's request for the issuance of licence for quarrying to some persons. Also in May,
the Additional Divisional Secretary of Elapatha was threatened allegedly
by a defeated UNF politician in a dispute of flood relief measures
in Ratnapura. In June, Minister
Mahinda Wijesekara was alleged to have chided his ministry secretary
S.C.Mannapperuma, using abusive language over an appointment matter. Mr. Bandaranayake is alleged to have threatened Flying Squad officials of the Fisheries Ministry and forced them to release his supporters who were arrested for illegally fishing in the Rajangana Lake while Mr. Perera had allegedly attacked two policemen at a Nuwara Eliya motor race. In all these instances, little or no action has been taken by the UNF, though it promised disciplinary inquiries and action, as it has promised in the latest case involving Kalutara District Parliamentarian Lakshman Ananda Wijemanne. Mr. Wijemanne is alleged to have assaulted Bulathsinhala Divisional Secretary P. D. Siriwardena last Sunday after an argument over the degree of welcome accorded to the politicians who came for a fair organized by the Samurdhi Ministry. The Divisional Secretary, who suffered internal injuries, was admitted to the Horana hospital. Mr. Siriwardena told The Sunday Times that around midnight, the MP had wanted him to come near a stage and when he went there, the politician started to blame him saying that he was not satisfied with the welcome he got. "He blamed me saying that I had not done anything to welcome him; I had not even kept a chair for him and as a result he had to wait standing for half an hour. When I tried to respond, he abused me in filth," Mr. Siriwardena said. The Divisional Secretary said he told the MP that he was not aware of his arrival and if there was prior notice, he could have arranged a ceremonial welcome for him as well. No sooner the Divisional Secretary had said this, the angry politician is alleged to have slapped him, saying, "You are too much", Mr. Siriwardena said adding that about 20 henchmen of the politicians also joined the attack. "I received several blows on my neck, chest and stomach. They tried to bundle me into their vehicle, but I managed to free myself and run towards the police post. But no policeman came to my rescue even after I pleaded for help. I received more blows as the policemen watched," Mr. Siriwardene said. He said after the attack, some policemen decided to take him to a hospital and put him into a police jeep, but no police driver dared to drive the vehicle. Later he was taken to hospital on his official cab driven by an official driver. "The matter did not end there. The MP and his men came to the hospital and threatened doctors, asking them to include in the medical report that I was drunk," the Divisional Secretary said. Bulathsinhala Samurdhi Manager P.D. Shantha who witnessed the incident told The Sunday Times that the MP gave the Divisional Secretary two slaps and shouted at the police asking to arrest him and conduct a breathalyser test on the Divisional Secretary. Meanwhile the All Island Divisional Secretaries Association that met in Colombo on Thursday decided to urge the government to take disciplinary action against the MP and ask the Interior Ministry to ensure the safety of Divisional Secretaries. The association is also to write to the IGP asking him to take action against police officers who had been mere onlookers when the Divisional Secretary was being attacked. A spokesman for the association told The Sunday Times that they had resolved to boycott all official functions where politicians were to participate until action was taken against the MP and the police officers. We also spoke to the MP concerned. Mr. Wijemanne denied that he assaulted the Divisional Secretary but said he was not sure whether some people who were around him assaulted the official. "It was I who asked the police to provide the security to the Divisional Secretary when there was a commotion after an argument. I didn't assault him. On the contrary I gave him protection," the MP said. He said that when he arrived at the carnival grounds on Sunday midnight, none of the organizers was there to welcome him and as a result he had to wait at the entrance for half an hour. He said that when he brought this matter to the notice of the Divisional Secretary, the official told him that he was not supposed to be at work at that time. Mr. Wijemanne said that this led to an argument after which there was a commotion with Divisional Secretary shouting that he had a chest pain and running away from the scene. Mr. Wijemanne admitted that he asked the police to conduct breathalyser test on the official. He also admitted that he told Samurdhi Manager Shantha who was present at the scene that he was ready to sort out the matter without complications. But the MP said it was Mr. Shantha who proposed such an arrangement. |
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