The parents who called over at the Dambulla Primary School last morning to get their children admitted to Grade 1 were in a dilemma when they were asked to pay Rs.3500 today. The disappointed parents were waiting near the school unable to pay the required admission fee. They said their children would not be admitted to the school unless they pay Rs.3500.
Some of them had then pawned their jewellery or taken money from private money lenders at heavy interest rates to pay the fee. They pointed out that it was unfair to charge Rs.3500 each from 200 children in addition to the facilities fee of Rs.180 to raise funds to maintain the school buildings. The principal of the school R.W.J. Bandara denied any knowledge of a decision to levy admission fee in this manner.
However, a parent S. Anurarathana said a resident of the area who attended the Parent Teacher meeting chaired by the principal proposed to levy Rs.3500 from the new comers for the building fund and that the principal consented to it. President of the Old Pupils’ Association J. K. Anura Bandara said they had collected the fee of Rs.3500 with the knowledge of the principal to maintain the schoolyard. Meanwhile, Director of Education, Galewela Zone, Jayantha Bandara who denied any knowledge of the incident said the principal of the school should collect only the facilities fees. Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Central Province Kekulandara stressed that the parents were not required to any payment excluding the facilities fees. He said he would inquire into the complaint.