NW Governor refutes claims of burdening parents in order to set up development fund

North Western Province Governor Peshala Jayarathne refuted claims made by a teachers union that he was burdening parents to purchase exercise books through regional education offices in a bid to build up a development fund.

The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) alleged that the Governor was planning to sell exercise books through these offices in a bid to set-up a Development Fund in the North-Western province.

However, Governor Jayarathne, told Times Online that the books, which are being produced by a private manufacturer, are being sold at a discounted rate to the students.

“The books are being sold at Rs 35 less than the market price. It is not compulsory for students to purchase it,” he said.

Explaining the decision to set-up a fund, the Governor said that he had been receiving several complaints concerning the needs of the people in his province especially school students.

However, he conceded that the Fund has not been set-up yet, and neither has it been gazetted by the Governor in order to make it a legitimate fund. “Until then we will deposit the revenue earned by selling textbooks to the account of the Northern Provincial Council,” Jayarathne noted.

According to the CTU, these books are to be sold to the students on July 30.