Thursday, December 6, 2012

Priyadharshana Yapa's not so 'dear' exploits

THURSDAY, 06 DECEMBER 2012

A large number of frauds and corruption that exist in the Ministry of Environment are being exposed by the internal sources of the ministry.

It is reported that the Minister of Environment Anura Priaydharshana Yapa has given a directive that violates human rights. Recently an interview had been held to appoint an engineer to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB). At the interview Mr. Janatha Udaya Kumara, who is the most experienced and qualified engineer in the field, was selected but on a direct order from the Minister the appointment was not given.

Mr. Udaya Kumara had been serving in this position earlier but had left to have further education abroad and had been selected after he applied for the post once he returned to the island.

Legal experts as well as heads of the sector say the foul order of the minister not only violates fundamental rights of the applicant who was selected but that of the whole citizens of the country who would be denied the benefits of his services. Also, the Minister, on his direct orders, arbitrarily recruits employees to all institutions under his ministry and all these employees are recruited from people at Pannala and adjacent areas say sources in the ministry.

These sources say the recent example of the Minister making illegal arbitrary recruits is the recruitment of officers for Marine Environment Protection Authority. Applications had been called from all offices of the Authority. When officials were taking steps to call applicants for interviews the Minister had ordered them to call applicants only from Kurunegala district.

As such, only applicants from Kuruneagala district were interviewed. However, the Minister had later sent a list of his own to be recruited.

It is stated that a large number of youths from Pannala, Katugampola, Giriulla in Kurunegala District have been recruited as drivers for the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau and according to sources there is a surplus of drives in the Bureau.