Protest against Ranjan

• Despite apology from President and Minister, insists “One Shot” should be held accountable

Members of the Gampaha District Administrative Services Association (GDASA) yesterday staged a protest in Gampaha against Social Empowerment and Welfare Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake for verbally abusing Divulapitiya Divisional Secretary H. M. L. S. Herath in public regarding a soil cutting issue. 

Accordingly, officers of 13 divisional secretariats in the Gampaha District participated in the protest in Gampaha town. Later in the day, President Maithripala Sirisena tendered an apology on the treatment of the Divisional Secretary but failed to soothe the union, which despite appreciating the gesture, insisted that Ramanayake should be held accountable for his remarks. 

They claimed that Ramanayake has no right to verbally abuse a Government official and demanded the Minister withdraw his statement immediately. 

They also demanded Ramanayake apologise to the related Division Secretary, claiming his behavior could be considered an insult to all Government officers. 

Sri Lanka Administrative Services Association Secretary Sunil Galagama said that Ramanayake should make a public apology regarding his behavior. Galagama also said that if Ramanayake is unable to withdraw his statement towards the Divulapitiya Divisional Secretary, the association would take further action. 

Members of the association boycotted their official duties yesterday to voice objection to Ramanayake’s comments.

Defending himself, Ramanayake told reporters that he believes his verbal actions were correct since the Divulapitiya Divisional Secretariat had not taken any action to stop the illegal soil cutting of the Akaragama area. He said that it would only be possible to apologise to her if she has done her job well. 

The incident occurred when Ramanayake visited the Divulapitiya, Akaragama area to inspect alleged illegal soil cutting. A heated argument broke out when Ramanayake asked for explanations from the Divulapitiya Divisional Secretary regarding action over the soil cutting matter.