The Court of Appeal yesterday (23) ordered the IGP to forthwith disperse unruly protesters who congregate in and around the Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) head-office with the activities carried out therein agitating to be absorbed into the permanent cadre of the company.
A Bench comprising Justices Vijith K. Matalgoda (President/CA) and S.Thurairaja issued this order sequent to the Writ petition filed by Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT). Court issued the order directing the IGP to forthwith act and formulate rules applicable to and governing
all members of the police force to duly take positive and prompt action in the instances when law and order was threatened and also when the obstruction of vehicular and pedestrian movement takes places as well as unlawful occupation of public or private property takes place.
Court issued notices on the Respondents returnable for April 4. Respondents were also directed to give the petitioner copies of the police complaints.
The protesters were the employees of SLT Human Capital Solutions (Pvt) Ltd which has a work force of 2,640 employees,out of which 1,371 are permanent employees and 1,269 are contracted, the petitioner stated.
Sri Lanka Telecom stated that HCS had entered into contracts with several companies including the SLT for the provision of human capita! services and the said agreement had expired due to the effluxion of time on December 31,2016.
It alleges the demands of the employees of HCS was unlawful, unreasonable and unjustified and maintains that the SLT has no legal obligation whatsoever to absorb them.
SLT cited Fort Police OIC Sumith Gunarathne, its Crime Division OICS.M.L,M.Suriyakumara, Superintendent of Police P.S.C.De Silva,DIG L.S.Pathinayake,Senior DIG Nandana Munasinghe,IGP Pujith Jayas undera and the SLT Human Capital Solutions (Pvt) Ltd as Respondents. Sanjeeva Jayawardane PC with Lakshana Perera and Lakmini Warusavitharana instructed by Sudath Perera Associates appeared for the Petitioner.
