DailyMirror
Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) accused some candidates of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) of grossly violating election laws and warnings by the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake.
The CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin alleged that teachers and principals in the Sabaragamuwa province, mainly from the schools in Ratnapura, had been summoned to participate in a walk which supported Power and Energy Minister W.D.J Seneviratne yesterday.
“These teachers and principals were participating in the walk during school hours. Academic activities in a number of schools were disrupted due to this incident,” pointed out Stalin. He asserted that not only are these incidents gross violations of election laws, but are unacceptable as they have deprived the students’ rights of continuing their academic activities without any disruption.
However, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Chief Ministry Secretary, Herath P. Kularatne speaking to the Daily Mirror yesterday said he was not aware of any teachers or principals participating in campaigning activities. However, he admitted that a walk had been organized yesterday but added that none of the academic activities were disrupted, according to his knowledge, as a result of the walk.
Mr. Stalin further speaking pointed out that several similar unethical campaign activities such as UPFA candidates meetings in the guise of parent-teacher meetings and school committee meetings had been arranged in various districts under the guidance of zonal and provincial education officials. He also said some teachers and education officials had attached themselves to zonal and provincial offices and were partaking in campaigning activities instead of attending to their official duties.
According to Mr. Stalin principals and school committee officials of all the Muslim schools in the Colombo district had been summoned to T.B. Jayah School yesterday where they had been requested to vote for certain UPFA candidates. Moreover, he said Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena had attended a similar teachers’ meeting that was held in Lumbini Vidyalaya on March 4, 2010.
“The period for campaigning ended at midnight yesterday, so now there is no point in correcting these injustices. However, we are urging the authorities to ensure that these activities are not repeated during future elections,” he added.
Fact box
• CTU accuses of similar meetings in Negombo, Kelaniya Anuradhapura and Passara.
•The Elections Commissioner issued a letter to the Western Province Education Department ordering to discontinue such meetings.
•The Commissioner also ordered disciplinary action on the errant officials.