Railway security officers lament over shabby treatment during SAARC
Railway Security Officers are up in arms over what they describe as shabby treatment meted out to them during the SAARC summit by the government.
President, All Ceylon Railway Employees’ General Union ACREGU S.P Witanage charged that two buns and two cups of tea were the only meals provided to railway security men for the entire 24 hours when they were on duty.
“There was a well organised catering service for the Police and Army personnel. But the railway security officers who had been detailed to assist the Army and Police to maintain security in the city during the SAARC summit received step-motherly treatment,” he said.
Railway security officers are not entitled to over time payments, maintenance allowances or food allowances. The railway authorities should have made an arrangement to supply them with at least a proper meal. Most of the security men refused the bun and tea given by the authorities, Witanage said.
It is a pity that railway security officers who were on duty round the clock were in hunger while the government spent billions of rupees on the SAARC summit, Witanage lamented.
Reached by Daily Mirror, GMR Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan said “Why should the ACREGU bother about railway security men? They do not have a Trade Union and are not allowed to engage in TU activity. However, they must be happy to get a bun for their meal as there were so many who did not get a glass of water”.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of railway security, Anura Premaratna confirmed to Daily Mirror that his men were not happy about the situation.
“Only Rs. 50 had been allocated per head for a day’s meal. We managed to provide two buns and two cups of tea a day for each with that allocation with much difficulty,” he said.
A request had been made to railway authorities to pay a special allowance to security men who were on SAARC duty, Premaratna said.
By Sandun A Jayasekera
Source: Dailymirror
Tags: railway department, railways
