News

Principal’s transfer violated fundamental rights: SC

Published

1 year ago

October 17, 2023

editor

The Supreme Court ruled that the Education Ministry Secretary had violated former Nakkawatta National School Principal K.D.Bandulani Basnayake’s fundamental rights by transferring her to the Provincial Education Department without giving any reason, against the rules of the Public Service Commission, in 2016.

The Supreme Court ordered the government to pay a compensation of Rs.100,000 and a court fee of Rs.50,000 to the petitioner.

After hearing a petition filed by the principal challenging her transfer, Supreme Court Justice Janak De Silva announced the decision with the concurrence of Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare and Achala Wengappuli.

The petitioner said that when she was appointed as the principal of Nakkawatta National School, the administration of the school had become a mess and after working hard, she upgraded the school to an “A” grade school.

The petitioner said that the Education Secretary transferred her to the North-Western Provincial Education Department with the approval of the Public Service Commission on August 10, 2016 without any valid reason.

Announcing the verdict, the Supreme Court said that the respondents have failed to record a statement from the petitioner before making this transfer, thereby violating Public Service Commission Regulation 221.

The court further said the Education Ministry Secretary has violated fundamental rights of the petitioner and accordingly, ordered the government to pay the relevant compensation and legal fees.

Fourteen people including the Secretary of the Ministry of Education have been named as respondents in this petition.

(AdaDerana)

News

Court issues injunction order over SJB’s National List

Published

3 minutes ago

December 12, 2024

editor

The Colombo District Court today issued a restraining order preventing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) from submitting their National List MP nominees without including the name of Nizam Kariapper of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).

After considering a plaint filed by SLMC leader MP Rauff Hakeem, Colombo Additional District Judge Chamari Weerasuriya issued this order on the SJB’s General Secretary, Ranjith Madduma Bandara.

Petitioner Rauff Hakeem claims that the SLMC, led by him, supported SJB’s presidential candidate, Sajith Premadasa, during the 2024 Presidential Election.

He also stated that during the 2024 General Election, his party entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SJB regarding the contesting of the General Election, on October 10.

Accordingly, the plaint states that the SJB agreed to appoint SLMC’s General Secretary Nizam Kariapper as a National List MP.

According to the MoU, it was mentioned that regardless of the number of National List seats the SJB secured, it is obligated to give one of those seats to the SLMC.

Rauff Hakeem further claims that the General Secretary of SJB has failed to submit names for the remaining four National List seats and requests the court to rule that this is in violation of the agreement made with his party.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Imported rice stocks released to market

Published

4 minutes ago

December 12, 2024

editor

Stocks of rice imported by private importers have been released into the market.

It is reported that the first consignment of rice, which arrived in the country yesterday (Dec. 11), has been cleared by Customs.

Following a cabinet decision on December 03 to allow rice imports without import control permits until Dec. 20, 2024, due to the rice shortage, imports have begun and it is reported that 75,000 kg of rice were released from customs yesterday.