• Union urges suspension of Chilaw Zone transfers citing officials’ personal affiliations, to raise matter with PM  

The Ceylon Principals' Union (CPU) has requested North Western Provincial (NWP) Governor Tissa Warnasuriya to immediately suspend the transfer of primary teachers in the Chilaw Education Zone for year (2026) and to conduct a disciplinary inquiry against the officials concerned, alleging the transfers were carried out in a corrupt manner. A letter sent to the Governor claimed the transfers of primary teachers in the said Zone for 2026 were done arbitrarily. It further claimed the transfers were influenced by personal affiliations of the officials involved, causing injustice to teachers as well as students in primary classes.

“Educational reforms are scheduled to be implemented for Grade One from this month (January). Teachers were trained last year (2025) to carry out teaching activities under these reforms. However, under this transfer process, a significant number of specially trained teachers have been assigned to other schools and different classes. As a result, students are losing the opportunity to receive education from trained teachers. The impact of this, particularly on Grade One students, is very serious,” observed the CPU Secretary, Piyasiri Fernando.

He further said that complaints have been made to the Education Ministry, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and the Criminal Investigation Department in this regard, in his capacity as the Principal of Lourdes College in Nattandiya and the CPU Secretary. He added that detailed information on the officers involved and the related irregularities would be submitted to the relevant institutions in the coming days.

“We have previously informed the Governor of this issue through a letter. Taking this into account, the Governor’s Secretary informed the NWP Council Chief Secretary to look into the matter and take appropriate action. However, no steps have so far been taken to correct these issues. Prime Minister and Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is scheduled to meet us in Madampe tomorrow (16). We hope to raise this issue, the problems related to principal transfers, and several other matters at that meeting,” he said.

Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa was not available for comment.