Please don’t cause panic to an officer who is very capable and could be used for good work for many more years, to serve the people - TULF

05.08.2009

His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa,
President of Sri Lanka.

Your Excellency,

ARREST AND DETENTION OF MR. N. VETHENAYAGAN - GA KILINOCHCHI

I am really shocked and surprised at the news of the arrest of Mr. Nagalingam Vethanayagan Government Agent of Kilinochchi. Mr. Vethanayagan although not known to me very closely, had a very good reputation when he served as Divisional Secretary at various stations within the Jaffna District. He was a duty conscious officer and very hard working.

I wish to draw your attention to the shabby treatment given to public servants who served in LTTE held areas. Not a single public servant served in Kilinochchi or Mullaitheevu on his choice. I know of several officers who got at very high influential people and got their transfers cancelled. Many who failed to get their transfers cancelled or vacated post and some such persons left the country for good. The public servant who served in these areas had free access to their head offices and homes. It is now shocking to see these officers arrested like criminals and detained. I am still not convinced of the treatment given to the three Doctors who saved the lives of thousands of IDP persons in Mullivaikal. The situation faced by the public servants working in LTTE held areas was exactly similar to the one they are facing in this Government. Every one had to dance to the tune of the LTTE. What action did the Government take when a public officer on transfer orders to Mullaitheevu or Kilinochchi protested against the posting in LTTE held areas. The Government did not help them.

Your Excellency please accept my advice and stop saying that they are arrested and detained because what ever wrong they did, if any, were done on the orders of the LTTE and out of fear. They cannot be held responsible for even any crime committed on the orders of the LTTE. I have no objection to the Government taking any one to clarify facts or to get some information but not as a criminal. At this rate the Government will soon lose its credibility. Hence please release the Government Agent Mr. Vethanayagan and summon him to get any information. Let no one feel that public servants in Vanni are treated as LTTE suspects or criminals. Please don’t cause panic to an officer who is very capable and could be used for good work for many more years, to serve the people.Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,

V. Anandasangaree, President – TULF.