Hierarchy in the Vocational Training Authority is under criticism over its protecting of a top official accused of sexual harassment.
The accused is the deputy director of administration and human resources management, although he has no basic knowledge or understanding on either, it is alleged.
A female instructor at the Maharagama centre who opposed his overtures had been transferred to Gampaha.
She has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, and subject minister Susil Premajayantha even brought the matter to the attention of the president and the prime minister.
Despite their order for a proper investigation, VTA’s new chairman Air Vice Marshal Prasanna Ranasinghe is protecting the accused, workers allege.
Instead, the chairman considers the victim to have committed a disciplinary breach by not obeying her superior and got the internal audit division to hold a one-sided inquiry.
This division has overlooked the misappropriation of Rs. 140 million at hotel school in Ahangama and a top official getting paid Rs. 5.4 million by the VTA while also being an employee of the Central Cultural Fund.
Workers demand that experienced official Niroshan Perera, counting over 20 years in the field, be reappointed the acting director of administration.
