The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has lodged a complaint with the Education Ministry Secretariat and the Examinations Commissioner General regarding the exam centre at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, being closed on Jan. 15, allegedly due to teachers not arriving at the school dressed in sarees.
A petition in this regard, signed by 26 individuals, was sent to the Examinations Commissioner General on the same day. Stalin stated that legal action should be taken against the school principal for initially preventing teachers from entering the examination centres and for closing the centre, which caused delays in releasing the examination marks.
According to the petition, school security personnel had prevented teachers from entering the examination centre for not wearing sarees, as instructed by the school principal.
The teachers had argued that since the evaluation centre operates under the authority of the Commissioner General of Examinations, the principal does not have jurisdiction over their dress code.
The principal, however, maintained that a certain level of discipline must be upheld within the school premises, and that all visitors should adhere to the school’s guidelines and the police were later called in after the situation escalated. However, an agreement was not reached.
Subsequently, the Commissioner General of Examinations had instructed to temporarily close the evaluation centre and according to the Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara, a final decision in this regard is to be reached today (Jan. 17).
Monara TV, launched with much fanfare just a year ago under the Swarnavahini media network, has reportedly shut down operations.
Employees have been informed that the closure is temporary, citing the need to resolve certain administrative issues.
The channel, led by Buddhika Wickramadhara, was ceremonially launched on June 25, 2024, with a grand event at Waters Edge.
Producers who supplied teledramas to Monara TV say they are owed nearly Rs.200 million in unpaid dues.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the parent Swarnavahini TV channel is also reportedly grappling with a serious financial crisis, paying teledrama producers only after 60 episodes are broadcast.
Producers claim they are compelled to wait about 03 months to recover an investment of around Rs.15 million per teledrama. Even then, payments are made in small portions, covering just 05 episodes at a time.
Producers who supplied teledramas before the appointment of Mr. Susara Dinal as CEO say it is even harder to claim their outstanding payments, as they have been asked to recover the dues from former CEO – Udara Wijesinghe.
The Swarnavahini Media Network is owned by Subaskaran Allirajah – Chairman of Lyca Group, which also owns Lycamobile, a global telecommunications company.
A young woman was found in the Dewipahala-Dodam Ella area in Kuruwita, after being brutally attacked and her gold necklace stolen
According to the police, the victim was found collapsed on the roadside with severe neck injuries caused by a sharp weapon. She was rushed to the Ratnapura Hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly after admission.
The victim has been identified as a 26-year-old.
Arrests are yet to be made and an investigation is underway.
