DailyMirror
Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has issued a letter to the Western Province Education Department, ordering its officials to discontinue the meeting scheduled for teachers and principals of the Minuwangoda Education Zone at Naiwala on March 22.
Commissioner Dissanayake, in his letter numbered PE/2010/19 has requested the Western province Education Secretary Mrs. Jayanthi Wijetunge and other relevant officials to take immediate actions to postpone the meeting. He has also strictly advised them to prevent engaging in activities that exploit state property and power.
The Commissioner has pointed out that it is unethical to organize meetings for teachers where they can discuss their work-related issues and concerns with candidates who are contesting for the upcoming general election. He has requested the authorities to stop organizing these political meetings which are conducted in the guise of official gatherings.
“The Commissioner has written this letter in response to a complaint that was submitted by us,” said Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin.
The CTU submitted a letter to the Elections Commissioner on March 15 bringing to his attention the political meetings which were organized by the provincial and zonal education offices to promote the campaigns of several UPFA candidates.
Two UPFA campaign meetings were held for educational sector personnel of the Kelaniya Educational Zone at Naiwala on March 15. The meetings were held at the Naiwala Sanasa hall. Another meeting had been organized once more for the teachers of the Minuwangoda education zone on March 22 at the same premises. Several similar meetings were held for teachers and principals in Negombo as well as Passara during the last few weeks and the academic sessions of the schools in those areas were severely disrupted as a result.