PC MEMBER ARRESTED OVER PUNISHING A TEACHER - Updates 2

PC member resigns .....
President speaks to teacher

     Member of the Provincial Council of North-West of the United National Freedom Alliance Sarath Ananda Kumara was once again ordered to be remanded by courts yesterday till 27th for making a teacher of Nawagaththegama M.V. to kneel down. A protest against him was launched in the school. In the meantime, the President spoke to the teacher concerned over the telephone and assured her of safety while Ministers including Maithripala and Bandula looked down the PC member's behaviour.

     In the process, it is reported that as a result of orders from higher authorities, PC member Sarath Ananda Kumara has tendered his letter of resignation to leaders of the UNFA from his post of membership from the Provincial Council of North-West of the UNFA yesterday (17).

    By forwarding his letter of resignation he had stated that though it is necessary  for him to make a special statement regarding the incident, he would refrain from doing so, so as to avoid putting his Party and government into inconvenience in this instance. The letter also says that he apologises to the teacher concerned and to the staff of Nawagaththegama Navodaya M.V.

    Members of Parliament and Ministers of North-West and Central Province who met the President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees last morning have unanimously requested from the President that this accused PC member be sacked.

    The President who spoke to the teacher has told that justice would be done.

    The President also said that low-grade behaviour of such public representatives who made the teacher Priyani Susila Herath, teacher-in-charge of discipline in the school kneel down in the scool premises because she advised her daughter about her school-uniform, it would damage the image of the Party and that nomination should not be given to such individuals who resort to anti-disciplinary activities at the forthcoming PC elections.

    Minister of Education, Mr.Bandula Gunawardena expressed his opinion in this connection saying, "Teachers have punished us also .... teachers are gods. If a teacher commits a mistake .... there are procedures to be adopted in such instances. On the alternative, a member of a provincial council  or any other member can't take the law into his hands and do what he likes".

    In the meantime, Gen. Sec. of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party said that if the North-West PC member Ananda Sarath Kumara who is supposed to have made the teacher kneel down will be confirmed as guilty to the complaint, the Party has decided to withhold nominations in future to appear for elections from the SLFP ticket.

    He further said that the highest disciplinary action would be taken against the PC member who has caused both mental and physical harassment to this teacher.

    A large gathering was present at the protest launched by the Lanka Guru Sangamaya including other organisations, school teachers, parents and students combined.

   As such, it is confirmed that the fear and suspicion which lurked in the mind of the teacher has been removed because of the mediation of the government.