News
SLFP meeting in Matara disrupted by Qualified Graduate Teachers sans appointments
View(s):
Pic by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk
A tense situation arose yesterday when a group attempted to obstruct a Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) meeting in Matara attended by United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera.
The meeting had been organised by Southern Province Education Minister, Chandima Rasaputra, with UPFA General Secretary and Minister Amaraweera in attendance as chief guest.
A group of individuals calling themselves ‘Qualified Graduate Teachers of the Southern Province’ conducted a protest in front of the building in Matara. The protestors claimed they had successfully passed the Graduate Teacher recruitment examination held for the Southern Province, but that, Provincial Minister Rasaputra had appointed his supporters to fill teacher vacancies, instead of the qualified candidates.
Heated words were exchanged between the protestors and those inside the hall. The protestors also blocked the building’s front entrance, which meant that police had to use the rear exit to get both Minister Amaraweera and Provincial Minister Rasaputra out from the location.