Cabinet nod for Committee to redress politically victimised public officials

Cabinet last week gave approval to appoint a Committee to examine and report measures to provide redress to Government and semi-Government employees who were subject to political victimisation under the previous administration.

The Committee will be headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Jagath Balapatabendi, while Attorney-at-Law Sumudu K. Wickramarachchi will function as the Secretary to that Committee. The proposal to set up the Committee was presented by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Cabinet was informed that during the previous regime, charges had been framed against several Government and semi-Government officers with the intention of making them politically victimised, and the inquiries concerned have been initiated deviating from the formal legal procedures. (CK)