200 school principals hand over resignation:

Education Secretary agrees to discuss matter

MAHINDA Aluthgedera

Two hundred School Principals belonging to the Association of Educational Professionals handed over their letters of resignation to the Education Ministry yesterday as a mark of protest, citing that authorities had failed to solve a number of anomalies pertaining to the principals service, despite repeated reminders.

Out of around 500 who came in a procession to the Education Ministry 200 handed over their resignation letters to the Additional Secretary to the Ministry W.Dharmadasa.

At a later discussion with the Ministry Secretary, Nimal Bandara leaders of the Association had cited long standing issues such as delays in promotions, salary anomalies etc. as the reasons for the resignations.

Soon after the meeting between the two parties the AOEP Secretary Wasantha Dharmasiri told the media that the Education Ministry Secretary had agreed to discuss the matter at a meeting fixed for April 17 and had advised the protesters to continue their routine School work until then.

He further said that the Association had agreed to discuss the matter on the given date and would decide the course of action to be taken in the future, depending on the outcome of the talks on April 17.