A top executive of Sri Lanka Telecom’s (SLT) Human Resource Management has resigned over a controversial restructuring scheme and alleged irregularities in human resource issues under his control, SLT officials said.
I.C.L. Bertus, Chief Human Resource and Legal officer, tendered his resignation soon after a decision was taken by the newly-appointed board of directors at its first meeting on July 16. This followed representations made by the Telecommunication Engineers Union which charged in a letter that decisions of Mr Bertus had diluted the status of professionals in the organisation and caused dissatisfaction among the staff, thereby creating an adverse impact on SLT.
He was also accused of making payment in demurrage of Rs.360 million to Sri Lanka Customs for equipment imported for Internet Protocol television IPTV, without conducting a proper inquiry.
The union urged the SLT board to appoint an external audit panel and re-examine the IPTV audit report.
The Business Times last week exclusively reported that SLT has abandoned the restructuring plan to cut jobs and a recruitment freeze which was to have been done by shutting down unproductive divisions of the firm.
When contacted Mr. Bertus said that he resigned on his own free will owing to ill health, and noted that he was aware of allegations after his resignation. He added that the board will never permit him to resign if there were such serious allegations against him and denied any wrongdoing. |
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