Immigration officers warn of tougher action if no solution in 2 weeks

Immigration officers say they will intensify their awareness campaign about their grievances and may even resort to trade union action if the committee appointed to look into their demands failed to provide solutions within a two-week deadline.

A five-member committee was appointed last week on the instructions of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to study the problems faced by Immigration Officers and recommend solutions.

The Prime Minister’s Office initially stated that the committee was given four weeks to complete its work. Immigration Officers later met Internal Affairs Minister S.B. Navinna and insisted on a speedier solution/ The Minister then requested the committee to submit a report within two weeks, Aruna Kanugala, President of the Sri Lanka Immigration & Emigration Officers’ Association (SLIEOA) said.

The committee, however, is yet to meet, though the letter appointing it was issued on December 29. “We don’t see how the committee can stick to its timetable when it hasn’t met even once,” Mr Kanugala stated.

Union representatives met Minister Navinna again for discussions yesterday.

If there was further delay in finding a solution, the SLIEOA President warned the association would resort to trade union action. “We have banners and leaflets ready to put up and distribute at the airports," he said.

About 25, 000 people travel daily through the arrival and departure lounges of the country’s airports and Mr Kanugala pointed out that displaying banners and distributing leaflets among the passengers would be an effective way of creating extensive public awareness regarding the issues faced by Immigration Officers.

“We have so far avoided this on the grounds that it will reflect badly on the country’s image, but we will go ahead if we see don’t see any concrete progress," he said.

The association’s key demands include the introduction of an approved service minute for the Immigration & Emigration Service, posting of Immigration Officers to the country’s embassies overseas and the re-establishment of the Departmental Prosecution Unit.

Mr Kanugala reiterated Immigration Officers had still not contemplated launching a strike. “We are well aware of the severe inconvenience such an action would cause to air travellers, not to mention the harm it would cause the country’s image.”

The committee appointed by the Prime Minister is headed by Viyani Gunathilaka, Commissioner General, Department of Registration of Persons; while Immigration and Emigration Department Additional Controller General R.M.P.S.B. Rathnayaka is the Committee Secretary. Officials from the Internal Affairs Ministry and the Treasury are other memmers of the committee.

Committee Chairman Gunathilaka said it was only this week that the five members were nominated and there were other members to be nominated by respective institutions.

Now that the committee is in place, it will hold its first meeting tomorrow evening," he added.