DailyMirror
The Supreme Court issued interim order staying the transfer of a bus conductor who alleged that he had been subject to discrimination on political grounds as a result of his support to the Common Opposition Candidate Gen. (Rtd) Sarath Fonseka at the recently held Presidential election.
Bench comprised Justices Saleem Marsoof and P. A. Ratnayake Saliya Peries with Lisitha Sachindra instructed by Paul Ratnayake Associates appeared for the Petitioner W. Sarath Francis of Ampara.
Petitioner stated that he is a member of the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya of the said Depot extended his support to the Common Opposition Candidate Gen. Fonseka at the recently held Presidential election.
He complained that after the election, he went to Ampara Bus Depot to work but was prevented from entering the premises by the 6th Resopondent Roshan Thilakarathne and a driver named K.T.Nimal. He said that other members of the Jathika Sewaka Sangamaya too were not allowed to enter the premises by them.
He said that the Chairman of the JSS in Ampara bus depot went to the police station and lodged a complaint regarding the alleged incident and provided a name list to the Police Station of the workers who were prevented from entering the said depot.
After one week of the said incident, Eastern Regional Manager issued a letter transferring the petitioner to Kantale Bus Depot form Ampara with immediate effect. JSS Chairman of Ampara lidged complaint with the Human Rights Commission and preferred an appeal to the Elections Commissioner stating that he and another 12 workers in Ampara of JSS have been transferred to several depots without any valid and justifiable reasons but based on the political motives.