News
Scout official ensnared in procedural tangle shrugs off stink
The executive committee members of the Sri Lanka Scout Association this week charged that the appointment of the chief commissioner by the President’s Office violates the Act and rules of the association.
SLSA president Srinath Gooneratne said that Merrile Goonetillake, the incumbent head, has been named in contravention of No 13 of the 1957 Act and rules of the association. Mr Goonetillake denies the charges.
Section 2 rule 8 of Ceylon Scout Council Act No 13 of 1957, says the chief commissioner should be appointed by the chief scout (the President of the country) on the recommendation of the president of the association in consultation with the chairman and retiring chief commissioner.
Mr Goonetillake was appointed by letter dated July 17, 2017 and signed by the Secretary to the President, Austin Fernando. Mr Gooneratne claims the appointment was made without giving due consideration to procedures in the SLSA Act.
Earlier, in a letter dated June 22, 2017 Mr Gooneratne in consultation with the chairman of the executive committee, Ransiri Perera and the outgoing chief commissioner Prof Nimal de Silva had recommended deputy chief commissioner, Janaprith Fernando for the post. But Mr Fernando, due to personal commitments, was unable to take up the position.
Its is understood that the incumbent head, Merrile Goonetillake had been recommended by the outgoing chief commissioner Prof Nimal de silva. Prof Silva, it is charged, had bypassed protocol and recommended Mr Goonetillake to the President’s Office. After that, the President’s Office by letter dated July 17, 2017 had appointed Mr Goonetillake as chief commissioner.
On July 20, 2017 the executive committee sent in a letter of protest to President Maithripala Sirisena with signatures from 17 of its 22 members.
They alleged that Mr Goonetillake, since his appointment has been acting on his own and not following the rules of the association. It said that his conduct and activities were harmful to the image of the institution which is over 100 years old.
It was alleged that Mr Goonetillake, had acted in violation of the rules of the association including making several appointments without the approval of the executive committee. Also he had ignored letters to him by the president and chairman of the association concerning his conduct.
Following this, the chairman and the president of the association met the secretary to President, Austin Fernando, on two occasions. During this time it was discussed how Mr Goonetillake could be discontinued from his post under provision of rule 54 of the association when his warrant came up for renewal at the end of 2017. It was agreed that his warrant be canceled. All scout officials’ warrants expire by the end of each year and are renewed annually through the association.
But Mr Goonetillake is alleged to have bypassed the association and got his warrant extended for 2018 by seeking approval directly from the President’s Office.
The President’s Office legal department says it has acted in accordance with the Act.
Mr Gooneratne argues that the appointment contravenes the rules of the association, a derivative of the Act where it is stipulated that the president of the association and the outgoing chief commissioner should be consulted when appointing a person to the post.
The matter was brought to the attention of MP Jayampathy Wickramaratne, who on August 28, 2017 wrote to Austin Fernando, but did not receive a response.
Mr Goonetillake, when asked by the Sunday Times, denied all charges against him and said he was not aware of the letters sent to him and the petition to the chief Scout, President Sirisena.
“I have not done any thing wrong. In fact, I am trying to uplift the SLSA by bringing in new people who will do great work for the association,’’ he said.
The President’s Office acknowledged that representations were made by the association on the appointment.
Mr Fernando said that the legal advisers had advised him that the appointment was legal and any disagreement can be sorted out legally.
“What we have done is right and if there are aggrieved parties they can sort it out in the courts,’’ he said.