Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, as Acting Education Minister has requested all teachers to report to work and dedicate themselves to educate children without engaging in trade union action further.

The Minister also said that he would request the parents to send all their children to schools as usual. The Minister made these remarks while addressing a special press conference to raise awareness regarding the ongoing teachers’ and principals’ strike  at the Government Information Department, yesterday (27).

However, responding to the Acting Education Minister’s statement,  the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) said that it is up to them to decide, not the Minister.

Speaking to ‘Daily Mirror’, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin has said that during the tenure of Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana, nothing substantial was provided for teachers.

“We only held a strike for two days. We will not report for duties as he said. Initially, we planned a single-day campaign. The government forced us into today’s strike after using water cannons and tear gas against us yesterday. That’s why we’ve decided to continue our sick leave campaign for today,” he has said.

Dates of the annual Kandy Esala Perahera have been announced.

The first Kumbal Perahera is to commence on August 10 with the final Randoli Perahera to be held on August 19.

The revision application filed before the Colombo High Court seeking annulment of the order given by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court by Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thera dismissing a private complaint filed against former President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal was yesterday dismissed without taking for the hearing by the Colombo High Court. 

Delivering the order, Colombo High Court Judge Sujeewa Nissanka observed that the order issued by the Fort Magistrate is an order given in accordance with the law and there is no need for his court to interfere with the order given by acquitting Lalith Weeratunga and Ajith Nivard Cabraal of the charges. 

Ven.Thiniyawala Palitha Thero had filed this complaint before the Fort Magistrate’s Court, alleging that US$ 6.5 million had been paid to Imam Suberi, a Pakistani national living in the United States, without proper approval to raise the image of Sri Lanka. 

Thilina Gamage, who was the then Fort Magistrate who rejected the complaint, issued an order acquitting Lalith Weeratunga and Ajith Nivard Cabral, who were named as suspects in the complaint. Ven.Thiniyawala Palitha Thera had filed this revision application before the Colombo High Court seeking an order issued on October 4, 2023 be annulled.

(dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)