News
Uproar over Uva Chief Minister’s actions continues
The upheaval caused by the Chief Minister of the Uva Province who ordered a school principal to get down on her knees and beg pardon from him, for ignoring his request continued into the third week with a teachers trade union demanding justice be done to the affected principal.
The CTU organised protests in front of schools and education zonal offices
Last week school teachers, students and principals held protests countrywide demanding action be taken against Chief Minister Dassanayake .
Over the past two weeks, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) held protests in front of schools and education zonal offices in Anurdhapura, Galle, Batticaloa, Jaffna and in Kalutara.
In the aftermath of the incident Dassanayake surrendered to the police and was taken into custody. It is learned he was subsequently released on bail on Wednesday.
Mr. Dassanayake also resigned from the post of Education Minister and Provincial Council member Senthil Thondaman was appointed to the post.
The appointment of Mr. Thondaman has raised a hornets nest in Uva political circles. UNP MP Suresh Vadivel opposed the appointment claiming the sole criteria for Thondama’s appointment was his close association with the Chief Minister. He also charged that Thondaman had several court cases pending regarding charges of assaulting a school principal and in another instance where he is charged with assaulting a postman of the area.
Thondaman however denies all charges claiming he had been exonerated in both cases.
He added ‘I hold a degree and I am fit for the post of education minister’.
Meanwhile the Human Rights Commission (HRC) which inquired into the incident on Thursday (25) on a complaint made by the CTU regarding the assault on the prinicpal, said inquires were ‘ongoing’.
The Sunday Times learned the HRC has ordered the police to have the B Report recorded properly.
CT General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that the trade union demanded the HRC direct the Sri Lanka Administrative Service and the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service hold a disciplinary hearing on the Provincial Education Secretary -Sandya Ambawala- and the Zonal Director -Sarath Ranasinghe- who had allegedly tried to protect Chief Minister Dassanayake for attempting to influence the principal against speaking the truth.
“Both have to resign and we will fight until justice is done,’ he said.
He charged government was enacting a charade by letting Chief Minister Dassanayake resign from his education portfolio and surrender to the police. ‘This is high drama to appease the public,’ he said.