Labour (non-Cabinet) Minister Mervyn Silva had reportedly obtained approval from the Ministry of Education to have at least another 20 students included through the back door in the Year-One intake at a girls’ school in Kiribathgoda, The Sunday Times understands.
The school had previously rejected these students on the grounds that they were not qualified for admission and that the school lacked the facilities and the staff to accommodate more Year One pupils.
On Friday, parents and past students gathered outside Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya to protest against the move to increase the number of Year One admissions.
 |
| The school in the centre of controversy |
The protest broke up after 10 minutes when a group of outsiders, believed to be supporters of Minister Silva, threatened the gathering and forced their way into the school premises. In the ensuing clash, at least one parent and a Sirasa TV cameraman were injured.
Education Minister Susil Premjayantha told The Sunday Times that last year Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya had as many as six Year-One classrooms, and that was why he had given his approval for the increased student intake.
Minister Premjayantha had also promised to provide the school with a new block of classrooms as well as other facilities.
However, other sources say the government had made no such promise about giving the school a new building.
The Sunday Times also learns that the Education Ministry had failed in a previous attempt to have the same 20 children admitted to another school in the vicinity.
It is understood that no police action has yet been taken against the persons who had stormed the school.
Minister Mervyn Silva was not available for comment.
|
E-mail