Amidst growing controversy over the proposed education reforms the government has issued a stern warning to principals, asking them not to allow students to participate in demonstrations organised by "outside forces."
The warning from the Ministry of Education comes in the wake of student demonstrations in the western province.
Acting Education Secretary P.G. Dayaratne accused the Inter-University Student Federation of instigating students and giving the whole issue a political twist amidst indications that several more protests would be organised in the outstations in the coming weeks.
"These reforms have no effect on the IUSF whatsoever and it is due to political reasons that they have resorted to these tactics. The proposed reforms are aimed at developing and improving the standard of education and thereby providing a system that is more job oriented," Mr. Dayaratne said.
He also said that this action by the IUSF was merely an attempt to create problems. "It is really 'outside forces' who are responsible for these protests. Why would anyone want to protest about reducing the number of A/L subjects to three and thereby reducing the workload on the students?" he asked.
An IUSF spokesman dismissing the allegations said they were merely educating the students on the proposed education reforms.
A principal of a prominent school in Colombo said a group of unknown persons had protested with placards outside a school in Colombo. He added that these persons had brought students from other schools to protest against the reforms.
The Sunday Times learns that although the circular introducing the subjects combinations has been sent to various schools, the reforms are yet to be made official.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Richard Pathirana commenting on the education reforms told parliament on Friday that the reforms would come into effect in 1999 for Year One, and would be implemented in upper grades year by year.
The
Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer was hosted for breakfast
by the Chairman of Galle Face Hotel Sanjeev Gardiner and his wife Sureka on
Friday at Gale Face Hotel. The Australian Minister’s former visit was in
1956 when he was a small boy. In the picture he is with Foreign Minister
Lakshman Kadirgamar and the oldest waiter K.C. Kitten who served the hotel since
1942 stands behind. Pic by - Dunstan Wickremaratne
Australia has told Tamil party leaders that it is throwing its weight behind the devolution package proposed by the Kumaratunga government to peacefully settle Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict.
Visiting Foreign Minister Alexander Downer outlined Australia’s policy when he met leaders of the TULF, the EPDP and the PLOTE - parties that are represented in Parliament - for a full discussion on the current situation and the various proposals for a settlement.
Mr. Downer was here on an invitation from the Sri Lanka government which decided that only Tamil parties represented in Parliament should be invited for the talks with the Australian Minister. This led to protests from others, with ACTC leader Kumar Ponnambalam sending a strongly worded message to the Australian Commission saying that Mr. Downer was being allowed to hear only one side of the story.
According to Tamil political sources TULF leader M. Sivasithamparam told Mr. Downer at the Hilton meeting his party was seeking more powers for the regions in land matters. Mr. Sivasithamparam who was accompanied by Neelan Thiruchelvam also said the powers given to the president for the dissolution of regional councils needed to be amended.
EPDP representative K. Wickneswaran predictably reiterated his party’s call for the setting up of an interim administration for the north-east. He said the recent assassination of two MPs in the Trinco district might have been averted if an interim council was in office.
But the TULF leader expressed reservation about the interim councils provoking a cross talk between him and Dr. Wickneswaran.
Both the TULF and the EPDP complained bitterly about the harassment, intimidation and detention of Tamil civilians in Colombo and other cities during cordon and search operations.
PLOTE leader D. Sidharthan called on the Australian government to use its "good officer" in getting the government, the UNP and also the LTTE to the negotiating table.
Mr. Downer said Australia was committed to such a peaceful settlement through the devolution package which might be the best chance for peace. He regretted the LTTE was continuing its terrorists activities.
The 15 nations European Union is ready to bankroll the re-construction and rehabilitation of the north-east once the war is over, EU representative Tikka Uusitalo said.
Addressing a seminar at the Trans Asia Hotel in Colombo he said the EU was at present providing funds to NGO’s which worked in the north-east while direct and large scale aid would begin when the situation was conducive.
Mr. Uusitalo outlined the multi faceted aid the EU had been giving to Sri Lanka over the past few years for projects ranging from rural integrated development to the battle against drug and alcohol abuse and upliftment of marginalised women.
Parliamentary Select Committee to review laws and regulations that restrict media freedom is likely to be appointed within two weeks and begin work soon after that, political sources said.
They said the all party group would consider recommendations by the R.K.W. Committee for the repeal of criminal defamation, press council, parliamentary privileges and related laws that are not conducive for the exercise of full media freedom.
The sources said the select committee would expedite proceedings and was likely to recommend sweeping reforms.
Some weeks ago the government moved a motion for the appointment of this select committee after the new media minister Mangala Samaraweera announced that the parliamentary privileges (special provisions) act of 1978 will be withdrawn.
That amendment has provided for Parliament to sit as a Court and impose even jail terms on anyone who was found guilty of a breach of privilege.
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