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Protection for govt. servants acting in ‘good faith’ 

17 Jul 2021

  • Drafting committee to meet this week for 1st time 
  • Relief for political vengeance also on the cards 
  • Recommendations and mechanism due in a month 
  • Ministry to submit pre-circular draft cabinet memorandum 
 BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA  The first meeting of the committee appointed to draft new laws to provide appropriate protection to employees of government and semi-government institutions in relation to actions taken by them in good faith during the performance of their duties, will be held next week, The Sunday Morning learnt.  Accordingly, the committee is planning to discuss the matter further and suggest areas that need to be developed in order to protect such employees whilst also holding them accountable for their actions.  The names of the members of the said committee, it is learnt, are scheduled to be announced this week.  Last week, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had instructed the Legal Draftsman’s Department to draft laws to provide appropriate protection to the employees of government and semi-government institutions and to provide relief to employees who have been subjected to political retaliation.  The committee will also include a senior official of the Attorney General's Department to assist in the drafting process and the recommendations in this regard are due to be made within a month.  When contacted by The Sunday Morning, Justice Ministry Secretary M.M.P.K. Mayadunne stressed that the committee would look into the possible avenues for protecting these employees.  Meanwhile, Public Services, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Ministry Secretary J.J. Rathnasiri had said that his Ministry had taken steps to submit a draft cabinet memorandum on the issuance of a circular to instruct the heads of establishments to identify the present limitations that restrict officers when performing their duties in good faith which go beyond the legal framework, and to therefore, make necessary provisions for this purpose to provide protection when they act in good faith.   


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