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No protest can abide by guidelines

04 Oct 2021

  • Public Security Ministry warns teachers on Int’l Teachers’ Day
BY Buddhika Samaraweera In a backdrop where the teachers’ and principals’ trade unions have decided to hold 312 protests islandwide tomorrow (6), demanding a solution to their salary anomaly issues, the Public Security Ministry has said that no party, including teachers and principals who are expected to behave in an exemplary manner, is able to hold protests in accordance with the existing Covid-19-related health guidelines. Although the International Teachers’ Day is held today (5), it is celebrated in Sri Lanka tomorrow. However, speaking to The Morning, Public Security Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Jagath Alwis said that no party is able to hold protests according to the health guidelines that are currently in place. “Once, they were the ones who staged protests and spread Covid-19. It is not possible to hold protests under the existing health guidelines. Let us wait and see. We hope that the teachers and principals will work in a more exemplary manner for the society,” he claimed. Speaking to the media recently, Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe stated that 312 protests are planned to be held on the occasion of the celebration of International Teachers’ Day in Sri Lanka, with one protest in each education division of the country. Meanwhile, on 2 October, Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd.) Sarath Weerasekera warned that harsh measures would be taken against trade unions or other groups who protest while the country remains open during the pandemic period. However, referring to the Minister’s warning of tough measures, Ceylon Teachers’ Union Secretary Joseph Stalin challenged the Government to present these “tough measures” in the presence of the visiting European Union delegation which is assessing the future of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus trade concessions facility granted to Sri Lanka, and which Monitoring Mission is scheduled to leave the country today. Jayasinghe, who spoke to the media recently, further stated that if the Government does not take immediate action to resolve their issues, protests will continue throughout the country even after tomorrow, adding that not only teachers and principals, but also parents are expected to participate in them.


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