Just solution soon for school admissions

COLOMBO: The Government will soon announce a fair and just solution to the Year One admission problem in a manner that would protect and safeguard free education, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva assured yesterday.

This solution which would give due regard to the views of the Supreme Court would pay special attention to the problems encountered by parents. It will not favour a privileged few, Minister de Silva said.

Addressing a media briefing organised by the SLFP at the SLFI Colombo, de Silva said the SLFP led Government is committed to protect and foster free education rather than curtail it as alleged by certain quarters.

The Government agreed to a Parliamentary debate on the Year One admission issue in order to show its policy of transparency in this matter because it had nothing to hide about it.

While the Supreme Court decision on a fundamental rights case had to be honoured the Government would never shirk its responsibility in finding a solution to this problem, de Silva added.

Pointing out that political parties had expressed various views in Parliament about the Year One admission issue, de Silva said Education Minister Susil Premajayantha is busy formulating a practical solution.

The past activities of the UNP which today cried hoarse about free education were still fresh in the minds of the public.

The UNP was only trying to fish in troubled waters by harking on this issue.