‘Teacher-killer JVP exploits coconut girl’
Wyman Hettiarachhci
The manner in which the JVP engaged in mass killings including
innocent teachers in the past is an open secret, Western Province Chief
Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. He was making a special statement at a
meeting of the Western Provincial Council in Battaramulla yesterday.
 The Chief Minister was replying to a statement made earlier by JVP
Provincial Council member Dr Nalinda Jayatissa. Dr Jayatissa in a
statement alleged that an incident which occurred at the Horana
Medhankara Vidyalaya recently, led to a national controversy and such
things happen because adequate funds are not allocated to each school
for its use.
Ranatunga said that unlike the JVP, they never tried to use
schoolchildren to derive petty political gain.
He said collection of contributions are made in every school for
various activities and there is an on going investigation into the
relevant school and the girl concerned.
The Chief Minister said there was nothing to hide about this issue
but he wished to reiterate that the Provincial Council had allocated
sufficient funds to each and every school under its purview.
He said: “ I held a press conference regarding this whole issue and
revealed all facts about the case. I also requested the media to desist
from publishing sensational news which could cause an injustice to the
schoolgirl concerned.
“I wish to thank the media for heeding my request and acting with
responsibility.”
Dr Jayatissa alleged that the Horana Medhankara Vidyalaya had
collected nearly Rs 1 to Rs 1.2 million and despite the presence of
about 11 Education Ministers the issue concerning the student who
collected coconuts went far to raise a major controversy.
This led to an uproar in the Chamber and the chairman of the council
said he could not allow further debate on the matter.
UPFA member Yasapala Koralage said the coconut issue had become a
topic of discussion in the school network.
“The land owner had taken the student who robbed the coconuts to the
Police with good intentions. But after it went to Court, the lawyer who
appeared for the student, tried to divert it to a major political issue.
I will fearlessly state that this particular lawyer is a UNPer. Some
people cannot stomach the peaceful environment in schools today,” he
said. |
