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Colombo Mayor asks police to probe file burning
View(s):Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil has formally requested the Inspector General of Police to investigate the burning of files belonging to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). In a letter to the IGP, the mayor points out that the destruction of valuable public documents violated several rules, regulations and laws, including the Offences against Public Property Act, the Penal Code, the Municipal Councils Ordinance and the National Archives Law.
The CMC files on fire
He also says the motive appears to have been countermanding an important resolution adopted by the Council in June 2013. It called for an inquiry into “certain fraudulent and unlawful recruitments of the personnel, who did not possess basic qualifications but (were) recruited by some officials”.
Mr. Muzammil said it appears that there was an attempt to destroy valuable evidence relating to the fraudulent recruitments, thereby to obstruct and frustrate the resolution.
A large number of CMC files were secretly set ablaze at the Borella Cemetery on August 17. A preliminary internal audit found that among them were vital documents relating to recent recruitments and assets of the Municipal Secretary’s Department. The audit revealed that four CMC officials oversaw the incineration on the written instructions of Municipal Commissioner Bhadrani Jayawardhane. Nevertheless, little or no action has been taken against any of the officials.
The incident is being further investigated by the CMC’s Internal Auditor, the Local Government Commissioner and the Chief Secretary of the Western Province. It was the main topic under discussion at Thursday’s Council meeting, spurring heated arguments among members.
“Please don’t turn this council into a fish market,” the mayor implored at one stage, unable to bring order despite furiously pounding his gavel on the table. Saman Abeygunaratne, a United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) councillor, shouted so vigorously during the debate that his dentures fell out. Another time, he tried to fling a glass of water at Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Councillor Sunil Watagala.
P. Anura Sujeewa, another UPFA councillor, raising a point of order, asked the mayor why he had visited the Municipal Secretary’s office—where the said documents were stored—on the morning of August 17. This caused another furor in the chamber with United National Party (UNP) members urging Mr. Muzammil not to reply as it was not a valid point of order.
However, the mayor clarified in his closing remarks that he came to his office that morning to attend a Sports Committee meeting. Afterwards, seeing some repairs being carried out in the Municipal Secretary’s office, he had dropped in to make inquiries.
“They were removing partitions,” he told the Sunday Times. “I had a look around and told them it was very good that they were taking down the partitions. I also told the Municipal Secretary that the tables are very old and she must get some new, smaller tables.”
The mayor said he left after making these comments. “They are now trying to say that I had walked into the Municipal Secretary’s office and given verbal approval to burn the files,” he said. “No approval was given to burn the files. I never knew they were going to do it. My position is that they can’t move any files out of the office because I have requested an inquiry into the irregular appointments.”
Meanwhile, the council passed an interim proposal introduced by UPFA Member Eric Chandrasena with 23 voting for and 11 against. The proposal questioned the actions of Ms. Jayawardhane on several counts. It condemned her failure to act on two resolutions passed in June regarding the alleged recruitment of unsuitable candidates to positions of security officers and the poor performance of the Council’s Flying Squad. It addressed the burning of the files, stressing that the CMC’s Internal Auditor and the Provincial Council Commissioner must be allowed to investigate the incident without pressure or interference. It urged the mayor, the municipal commissioner and other officials to provide all necessary documents to the inquirers.
It also proposed that the mayor request the police to conduct a separate probe, something which has now been done.
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