News
Some teachers opt out of Principals’ Service as promotions cost them part of their salaries – Trade union leader
By Rathindra Kuruwita
A number of teachers who are qualified to be principals have refused to join the Principals’ Service because they will end up being paid less than ordinary teachers eventually, says Sisira Rajapakshe National Organizer of the Principals’ Service Union (PSU).
“It gets worse with the passage of time. A Grade 1 principal draws about 12,000 to 16,000 less than what he/she could have got as an ordinary teacher,” Rajapakshe said, adding the government was in the process of recruiting 4,715 new principals. The first batch was recruited in 2017 through a competitive exam. Now, there are salary anomalies.”
“They are paid less than their colleagues in the teacher service. The authorities are aware of the problem. There have been many discussions. The only way to solve this issue is to change the Principal Service minute. Instead of doing this, various officials and even some unions are trying to make matters worse by categorising principals according to the year in which they were recruited, and proposing separate solutions for those categories.”
Rajapakshe said the entire school system was beset with numerous problems. “Parents have to spend a lot of money on their children’s education unlike in the past. Transport costs are very high for students and teachers.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for Aug. 31 the pre-trial conference in the money laundering case filed by the Attorney General against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, and his great-aunt Daisy Forrest.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.
State Counsel Oswald Perera requested court to fix a date for the pre-trial conference and informed the judge that the prosecution would announce its position regarding the second accused, Daisy Forrest, at the conference. He also said the prosecution intended to notify court of amendments to the indictment.
After considering the submissions, Judge Singappuli ordered that the pre-trial conference be held on Aug. 31.
The Attorney General has indicted Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that they deposited nearly Rs. 59 million in bank accounts knowing, or having reason to believe, that the funds had been unlawfully acquired.
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A few showers may occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
Harmer, Markram and Wolvaardt win top honours at CSA awards
War of words erupts between Minister Chandrasekar and Archchuna in North
Cardinal seeks dismissal of Sallay’s petition
Money laundering case against Yoshitha, fixed for pre-trial conference
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