Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
Friday, 14 June 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Public Administration Ministry Secretary J.J. Ratnasiri yesterday said the Government is considering amending the contentious circular which was put in place after the Easter Sunday attacks, making the sari and osari mandatory for State sector female workers.
Ratnasiri, who testified before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday terror attacks, said the circular was not issued targeting a particular community, but was issued after calls for renewed security measures after the attacks.
The Secretary admitted that the circular had resulted in some issues, and discussions were underway to amend it.
“Following the Easter attacks, there were requests from other Ministries and general public to take new measures in order to ensure security and safety of property and personnel. Among those requests were a request to introduce a dress code for public servants. There were complaints that those who come in to public offices covering their faces were a threat to security of property and persons. That was why we introduced the dress code,” he said.
Ratnasiri said the circular was issued in accordance with the provisions of the Establishments Code.
Ratnasiri said if public servants were facing problems due to the circular, they can bring it to the notice of their immediate superiors, and inform the Ministry of Public Administration through them and if they get no relief, they can go to the Public Service Commission.
Yesterday’s committee comprised of its Chairman Ananda Kumarasiri, Dr Jayampathy Wickremeratne, Prof Ashu Marasinghe, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Rauff Hakeem and M.A. Sumanthiran. The following is a partial transcript of Ratnasiri’s testimony.
Minister Karunanayake: Ours is a multi-ethnic society. According to the President, Prime Minister, the Cabinet and Government, there had been no decision to introduce a new dress code. The Minister told the Cabinet that he did not know of that decision.
Ratnasiri: If the Minister says so then I would not argue against it.
MP Sumanthiran: Would you accept the responsibility for introducing this dress code?
Ratnasiri: Yes, I as the person who had signed the circular, I accept responsibility.
MP Hakeem: Do you know that some public servants have resigned or taken leave from their jobs because of the circular at question?
Ratnasiri: No, such a development has not been reported to us. If there is such an issue, then that could be referred to the Public Service Commission. Had there been such a request we are ready to consider it.
MP Hakeem: Are you aware of the situation in the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration following this circular?
Ratnasiri: Yes, the cadet officers of the SLIDA are undergoing training to enter into public service. We instructed that the female trainees should wear sarees. There are some 200 cadet officers there and they have no problem with the dress code, they all adhere to the dress code.
MP Sumanthiran: The Prime Minister’s office had issued a notice that they would not adhere to the dress code. This circular amounts to violation of human rights.
Dr Wickremaratne: Do you know that in the landmark case Gamaethige versus Siriwardena, Supreme Court Judge Mark Fernando has stated that any public servant could go before the Human Rights Commission without going through his or her chain of command and senior officers?
Ratnasiri: It is better if the complaints of public servants follow the process.
MP Hakeem: Now there is an issue because of this circular. Many Muslim women cannot go to their workplaces because of this circular making it compulsory to wear sarees.
Ratnasiri: We have only re-imposed a previous guideline. The Saree has been recognised as the dress for women in the public service.
Field Marshal Fonseka: Is there any such guideline making a certain dress code mandatory?
Ratnasiri: There are guidelines which specify the payments for the dress allowance of the public servants. According to those guidelines issued in 1920s and updated lately, the payments have been specified for saree, jackets, trousers, coats etc. Only those dresses have been recognised. In addition, when we recruit the females for the public service, we specify them to come to the first day of service to accept their letter of appointment in sarees. There was no intention of discriminating any person of any religion. It is under discussion to amend the circular in question. There could be changes to it.
