Devananda provides with solutions to the problems faced by Jaffna MC Employees

(June 17, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Guardian) Douglas Devananda, Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare, and Chairman of Special Task Committee, met with at his Ministerial premises on the last 10th, 182 employees from the Jaffna Municipal Council, representing their union, the United Workers Association of the North, speaking at the meeting Minister said that at times he invited the views and advice of people in planning out activities to be implemented for the well-being of the people of Jaffna peninsula and at such times, the Government employees having well understood the situation should put forward only the proposals that would prove to be beneficial to the people and desist from doing otherwise.

Expressing his views further, the Minister stated that it was the bounden duty of every stake-holder in the society to come forward to work hard and give their unstinting support to all the pro-people activities carried out by the Minister for the common good of the people of Jaffna and the delivery of result of such humane and just activities would be very much quicker.

Looking into the complaint made by the workers to the effect that the internal promotions were not taking place in a proper and justifiable manner, the Hon. Minister admonished the Municipal Commissioner to leave no room for such lapses in the future. The Hon. Minister also assured the workers that he would direct his attention and resort to action for orderly issuing of goods to the workers for their well-being, to grant permanent appointments to those who have been serving on casual basis since the year 2003, and to extend the 6 month salary loan to 10 months.

The Minister also instructed the Municipal Commissioner to take immediate action to prevent the long delays in payment of pensions, and explore the possibility of granting a payment to those who had retired from service until such time their pensions are received, so that they could meet with their day to day expenses, and also to provide with a suitable place within a week, for changing clothes and to have meals for the workers from Pasayur, Vannarpannai, Ariyalai Bandaraivalayivu and Naveera Sandai and to look into the grating of leave for the workers.

The Minister further said that he would take alternate action for granting of Housing assistance to the workers of Jaffna Municipal Council.
- Sri Lanka Guardian