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Resolution on school uniform material for all students adopted

by Moneragala special correspondent

The Uva Provincial Council at its monthly meeting passed a resolution introduced by the JVP member K. V. Samantha Vidyaratne demanding the immediate restoration of the free supply of school uniform material to the student population of this country and do away with the utter confusion and difficulties brought about by the recent dislocation of the existing procedures.

It was adopted by eleven votes to eight. Introducing the resolution the proposer claimed that under cover of giving this relief only to the truly deserving, the government was trying to appease the World Bank dictates to deprive the nation of the relief measures hitherto enjoyed by the people of this country.

Bandara Badanage seconding the motion referred to the government rushing through with passing a spate of Acts and Bills in parliament to cut down relief measures enjoyed by the people.

Vincent Dias (UNP) traced the history of the relief measures introduced in the field of education from the celebrated Free Education scheme to the supply of meals to students and later the issue of uniform material to ensure that all sections of the poor were able to benefit by such relief measures. He recalled how in 1977 when the J. R. Jayewardene led government took office they reintroduced the school students' free meal

arrangement by offering Rs. 3 per student, and stressed that they were not out to take away relief that they themselves gave, but the changes contemplated were timely checks on better distribution moves to benefit the needy.

Amara Malwatte Peiris (UNP) described the resolution as a game that politicians liked to play. When they speak against the VAT the JVP fire breathers condemn the price increases of luxury goods and now sponsor objections to measures aimed at reducing prices thus displaying their wavering attitude and political expediency.

Muniratne Attanayake, Leader of the Opposition said that with the first signs of public protests engineered by sections working overtime to find fault with the government, the Minister of Education and the departmental authorities accepted the shortcomings pinpointed in the restructuring process for the distribution of school uniform material and promised to ensure that no injustices would be tolerated.

The cleaning up of the Samurdhi distribution scheme has also become a subject for similar protests but in both cases what the government wanted to do was to take prudent decisions regarding the most effective forms of distributing relief measures.

A resolution proposed by Provincial Minister J. M. Goonethileka calling upon the Uva Provincial Council to adopt a plan of action to arrest the escalating environmental pollution through the haphazard use of polythene material was unanimously adopted after several speakers from both sides of the house made forceful arguments decrying the carefree use of non destructible polythene.

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