The procedures pertaining to the recruitment of engineers by Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) have drawn much criticism with respect to contradictions and inconsistency on the part of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), which has been managing the SLT for the past five years. Several reports in the newspapers have highlighted that the Human Resource Division of SLT does not have a proper recruitment policy and that it is fraught with ambiguities with relevant circulars being violated. These irregularities, it has been pointed out, have resulted in a number of qualified engineers being victimized.

When the Shareholders’ Agreement was signed by SLT and NTT in August 1997, it expressly stated that the terms and conditions of employment will be "no less favourable than those enjoyed by each of the employees of SLT" before the agreement was signed. This condition has been concretely guaranteed by R. D. Somasiri, the then Managing Director of SLT, under Circular No. 41/96 of October 29, 1996.

These terms and conditions were altered, it is alleged illegally, by the Chief Executive Officer of SLT Ltd., by way of CEO’s Circular No. 66/99 dated October 01, 1999. This circular introduces a new recruitment/promotion scheme for "A-6 and A-5 Grades". In effect, a new category called "Assistant Engineer" (A-6) was instituted. However, the CEO has retained the distinction between "recruitment" and "promotion" from the original scheme.

Thereafter, the Chief Administrative Officer, in contravention of Circular No, 66/99, has issued another circular (CAO No. 02/2000) which has effectively done away with promotions, forcing internal engineers to sit for examinations along with outside candidates. The CAO, on April 5, 2000, as per CAO Circular No, 44/2000, has called for applications from internally qualified people to sit the examination for A-5 engineers. The relevant examinations were held both in 2000 and 2001. It has been brought to our notice that two persons who failed in 2000 and two working on contract basis who had not sat the examination have been recruited in gross violation of the above circulars.

Meanwhile the Telecommunication Engineering Diploma Association had made several representations about internal candidates to the CEO, through the Secretary of the association, Mahendra Silva beginning in May 2000. There has been no response whatsoever to these representations. Finally, the CEO decided to hold a discussion on these issues with the Association on February 18, 2002. As a result of this discussion, surprisingly, it was decided by the CEO to provide relief to non-qualified candidates, who, after following 5 one-week courses would be eligible to sit an internal examination. It has been found that the average age of the 12 persons selected for this is over 50! And this, in the context of the SLT having a voluntary retirement scheme aimed at lowering the average age of the employees (Annual Business Plan 2002, of the Human Resources Division of SLT).

Subsequently, 11 qualified engineers wrote to the CEO, copied to the Chairman, SLT, on February 25, demanding redress for their grievances regarding promotions. Their demand was that since they are already qualified and have the required experience, that they be appointed as A-5 engineers. This request had been forwarded to the Acting Head of Group (Human Resources), Mrs. Manisha Jinadasa. Ms. Jinadasa, in response, does not seem to have perused any of the documents pertaining to recruitment/promotion. Instead, she has claimed that "under the old scheme academically qualified internal candidates were promoted to Engineer A5 grade only when external recruitment to A5 grade is done". However, CEO Circular No. 7/98 (January 20, 1998) clearly states that 12 District Telecommunication Inspectors have been promoted to the A5 grade subsequent to an internal examination and interview. No corresponding examination was held for external candidates.

Also on August 1, 1999, 7 qualified engineers, namely, M. A. C. Perera, J. N. Wickramasinghe, Rohana Ellawala, L. R. L. A. Liyanage, Lakmali Kankanige, A. G. S. Ranatunge and S. D. W. Sahabandu, were recruited only after interview. There was no external examination either.

Furthermore, there have been occasions when external candidates were recruited through examinations (1998 and 1999) which internal candidates were not allowed to sit.

The Head of the Information Technology, Tilak Silva, has himself asked the Human Resources Division in a letter dated February 8, 2002, why there is a A5-A6 distinction, especially in view of the fact that two A5 posts in the Billing Systems Division have been filled by A6 engineers. He points out that if there is no difference in the functions of these two categories, then the distinction should be done away with forthwith.

In conclusion, what seems to be happening at the SLT., is that qualified engineers are labelled as "Assistant Engineers" thereby devaluing their qualifications, made to perform the full duties of engineers while recruitment and promotions are made according the whims and fancies of the management. (MS)