CaFFE executive director removed from his job at Kelaniya University

Sunday, 11 November 2012

The University of Kelaniya has decided to terminate the employment of the executive director of Campaign for Free and Fair Election and human rights activist, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon.

Earlier this year he was released from all disciplinary allegations against him, after four years of inquiry. Surprisingly the university administration has terminated his employment, on the charge that he has left his post, on the same day he was found not guilty, September 11, 2012.

The university suspended Tennakoon after he declared that the 2008 eastern provincial council was full of irregularities, as his capacity as an election monitor. This statement was considered a disciplinary offence and three panels of judges examined the allegations against him and found him not guilty. It has also been decided to pay him 6 months salary as compensation. However a few minutes after this ruling the university administration has terminated his services stating that he has abandoned his post.

Tennakoon, who joined the university on January 11, 1993, will lose all benefits he was entitled to for completing 20 years of service. Earlier Tennakoon sought legal redress for the violation of procedure regarding a disciplinary inquiry by the administration. The university act states that a disciplinary inquiry should end within one year but the investigation against Tennakoon has dragged on for four years. With this verdict he will lose all social benefits entitled to a university servant.