News

News

Schools hooray for Cooray
By Sachitra Mahendra
School principals in the western province have reportedly been asked to hold religious programmes and contribute money for campaigns to defend Western Province Chief Minister Reginold Cooray who is facing a no-confidence motion in the council.

While Mr. Cooray himself denied any knowledge of such a campaign, The Sunday Times learns that Zonal Education Directors have asked some of the principals to contribute Rs. 2,000 each to meet the cost of printing of posters, issuing statements, putting up banners, performing religious rituals to defend the Chief Minister.

SLFP organisers are among those who have allegedly been telling the zonal education directors to help in the campaign.

Twenty-eight principals in the Gampaha District were summoned recently to be briefed on the campaign and were requested to collect at least Rs. 2000 from each school, for the expenses of the campaign to defend the Chief Minister.

Only 19 principals agreed to this while the others objected. Some principals have contributed the money from their own funds as they did not wish to collect the money in schools.

A principal who attended the meeting, but did not want to be named said money was requested for the campaign to defend the Chief Minister. In a similar meeting held in the Homagama Education division, the principals were directed to organise children to attend a 'Pahan Poojawa' to invoke blessings on the Chief Minister.

Zonal Directors contacted by The Sunday Times declined to comment. One of the Zonal Directors said that although they had a discussion on this issue, she had no connection with the programme.

Mr. Cooray is facing a no-confidence motion moved by the UNP on 11 charges including corruption and misuse of power in the appointment of teachers and principals, appointing under-qualified persons in the education sector and issuing of bus permits to favourites.

The 23-member strong JVP has threatened to withdraw its support to Mr. Cooray, thus enabling the opposition to push through the motion of no-confidence. Commenting on the allegations, Mr. Cooray told The Sunday Times he couldn't do anything against such activities.

"If the people are doing such things, what am I to do? That's their right. I haven't instructed any of them to do anything to defend me," Mr. Cooray said. He said some people opposing him might be spreading this news to act against him.

Top

Back to News