Protect our jobs - Ex Avant Garde employees plead

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Ex-employees of Avant Garde Security Services will present a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena tomorrow calling upon the Government to protect their jobs. Over 4,900 ex-employees have asked the Government to safeguard their jobs.

"Nearly 7,000 employees will lose their jobs, if the Government goes ahead with the take- over of Avant Garde Security Services. All employees are ex-servicemen and war heroes," said Lieutenant Colonel Nilantha Jayaweera, former Manager Commercial Vessel Protection of Avant Garde Security Services.

"This is not merely providing employment for our war heroes but it was was a retirement plan. Now their lives are in jeopardy," Lt. Col. Jayaweera said. He said these employees were not Sea Marshals alone but were technicians, clerks and book- keepers

Jayaweera said employees of Avant Garde were treated properly and denied part payment. "Employees were paid according to the agreement." Nearly 7,000 people would be helpless without jobs, he said..