CPA Removes Groundviews Editor From ‘Senior Staff’

May 1, 2014

Sanjana Hattotuwa, Editor of Groundviews (www.groundviews.org), a website run under the auspices of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has been removed from the ‘Senior Staff’ of the organization, Colombo Telegraph learns.

Hattotuwa

Colombo Telegraph has received numerous emails alleging that Hattotuwa had abused in foul language the Administrative Officer of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a female, in the presence of other members of the staff. According to our sources CPA first decided to sack Hattotuwa, but hesitated to implement the decision due to intervention by the Executive Director of CPA DrPaikiasothy Saravanamuttu.  CT wrote to both Hattotuwa and Saravanamuttu seeking clarification on the matter.

Hattowa has refused to comment on the matter. Saravanamuttu did respond but stopped short of acknowledging or refuting the allegation or action taken.

He wrote, “I am responding to your e-mail regarding an alleged incident at CPA involving members of staff.  Incidents of such nature, if and when they occur are considered by the organisation to be internal matters to be dealt with and resolved within the organization. When the governing body of the organisation and its Executive Director are of the opinion that comment to the media on an internal matter is warranted in the public interest, CPA has, as in the past, issued a statement to the media.”