(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –The Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said disciplinary measures will be taken against the officers who had influenced the students and teachers not to go to schools Wednesday (04).
Minister Kariyawasam said the Education Ministry has received a number of complaints that trade union leaders using their trade union privileges influenced the teachers and principals to go on strike and advised the students to not to attend the schools.
The Minister, stressing that it is the government’s responsibility to reinstate the teachers and principals, who were politically victimized during the previous government and lost jobs, pointed out that when the government has acted transparently and fairly in resolving their issues, certain groups are engaged in fulfilling their narrow political objectives.
The Education Minister also pointed out that steps have been taken to ensure justice for people, who were politically victimized during the previous regime, giving priority to democratic principles, subject to the approval of the Public Service Commission, which has established the independence of the public service.
“It is disgusting to oppose the steps taken by the government according to a systematic and fair procedure to grant the due rights to the officials in the same field and same profession who were subjected to various injustices and revenge during the last regime,” the Minister said stressing that it is his responsibility as the Minister to mete out justice to the victims.
He also pointed out that those who oppose have narrow political agendas.
However, the token strike launched by some teacher trade unions was unsuccessful since no school in the country was kept closed, the government said. It has been reported that teachers and students attended schools as usual.
The Minister extended his gratitude to the school principals, teachers and the parents for keeping schools open.
Meanwhile, the National Education Services Union has lodged a complaint at the Human Rights Council against the trade unions who made an attempt to violate rights of the school children by staging a strike.
