School admissions: Govt will not hesitate to do the right thing -
Mangala
by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi and Ranil Wijayapala
The Government will not hesitate to do the correct thing on the
request of majority of parents of the country who have to face
injustices when admitting their children to national schools,
Information and Media Minister and Deputy Education Minister Mangala
Samaraweera told Parliament yesterday.
Responding to the adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya
on the interdiction of Kingswood College and Ananda College principals,
the Minister said the Government has nothing to hide about the inquiries
conducted by the Special Investigation Unit.
"We have given this debate even at a time two cases been filed in the
Appeal Court," the Minister added. "On the instructions of the Public
Service Commission the Education Ministry has already taken steps to
re-appoint the principals of Ananda College and Kingswood College. At
the same time we are continuing with our investigations," the Minister
said.
The Minister said no one can challenge the legality of the Special
Investigation Unit as it was appointed by the President in accordance
with the powers vested in her by the Constitution.
"The Supreme Court has also accepted the legality of the unit," the
Minister added.
Minister Samaraweera said the Ministry was compelled to appoint the
Special Investigation Unit as Education Ministry had no capacity to
conduct investigations about 2,500 complaints received by the Ministry
on irregularities in school admissions.
He said the Kingswood principal has admitted that he had been
involved in certain irregularities with regard to admission of students
to the school.
The Minister said the Public Service Commission has recommended the
interdiction of principals of six schools earlier. The Commission has
given its approval for the interdiction of six principals three months
after documents were given to it.
"The Commission has given its recommendations on the principals of
these two schools within three weeks. It is unusual to note the Ravaya
newspaper reporting the recommendations before the Education Ministry
received the letter," the Minister added. |