Hon. Governor N. Vethanayahan of the Northern Province has pledged that an independent and impartial Inquiry committee will be appointed to look into allegations that have affected the dignity and professional interests of Development Officers.
Representatives of the Confederation of Northern Province Trade Unions, who staged a protest this morning – on Monday, 17 August 2026, in front of the Northern Provincial Council office premises, subsequently met with the Northern Province Governor and handed over their petition. Five of these representatives were granted permission to meet the Governor in person and present their views.
In the petition submitted, they requested that an independent and impartial inquiry be conducted into the incident said to have affected the dignity and professional interests of Development Officers, and that evidence related to the incident including audio and video recordings be properly preserved and examined. They further stressed that appropriate administrative or disciplinary action should be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
During the meeting, the Governor carefully listened to and took note of the concerns and expectations raised by the Development Officers, and stated that an independent investigation would be carried out to establish the truth regarding the matter.
The Governor also pointed out the need to protect the dignity and rights of all staff serving in the public service, and stated that appropriate measures would be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
