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Crisis in education sector: Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians offers to help govt. overcome challenges
The Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians (SLCP) has offered to join hands with the Ministry of Education and the government to overcome the challenges in the education sector amidst the ongoing political-economic-social crisis. The outfit declared a tangible action plan was required to address the issues at hand.
The following is the text of the statement issued by SLCP President Prof. Guwani Liyanage: “Sri Lanka as a country has always been held in the highest esteem due to its high literacy indices in comparison to other countries in the region. However, the past three years have been a challenge to all sectors and especially so for education of children and young people.
The COVID-19 outbreak had brought fear, anxiety, and above all maximal stress worldwide. Institution of health safety measures and lockdowns, which were a novelty to us all, made physical contact an impossible task except in dire circumstances related to health. The schools were closed initially and with the use of current technology, online teaching commenced, based on the available facilities of each region. According to a study, most of the children had received some level of education, even though quite understandably, children of lower and middle-income families have had to utilise the facilities only within their reach, as a substitute for face-to-face teaching. The usage of social media like WhatsApp to deliver education material had been successful to a certain extent. Two major examinations like GCE O/L and GCE A/L were held, albeit following a delay in proportion to the challenging circumstances.
As the country was about to see some light at the end of the tunnel in terms of COVID-19, and with the schools reopening and adapting to the new normal, a new challenge emerged for our country with the worst economic crisis ever to be faced in the post-independence era. With the scarcity of fuel, transport has become the worst affected, with both the teachers and children facing difficulties in attending school. Further to this, the schools were closed on several occasions due to a lack of modes to commute for school attendees, adding to the unfortunate woes that were seen as sequelae of the pandemic.
Online education, the silver lining of the gloomy cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic, has the potential to be the solution until the country overcomes this challenging series of adversities. Undoubtedly, online education has its disadvantages, but given the limited number and modes of the substitutes available to provide uninterrupted education, online education may serve the purpose. Proper guidance and supervision with organisational support will avoid unwanted missed days of school.
Strategic planning to continue education uninterruptedly will be the best investment the country can make for centuries. Most of the teachers including those even in the most rural sectors are quite conversant with the online learning platforms and hence supporting this good cause would be a less tedious course. The policymakers would appreciate the pros and cons of each type of education at different institutions, as more transport issues are likely to prevail in urban communities, where technology is likely to be at its best when compared to rural communities. Hence, tailor-made methods for each should provide sustainable delivery of education to our children, the future jewels of our nation.
We, at the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, are willing to join hands with the Ministry of Education and the government in this tedious task to overcome the challenges likely to be faced in delivering this educational service which will affect several generations to come. As the premier professional academic organisation concerned with child healthcare, representing academics and clinicians responsible for the health of the future generations, we believe that we truly need to initiate and support the uninterrupted delivery of education to the children of our land. While appreciating the hard work done by the teachers in attending to this tremendously challenging task, we would like to reemphasise the importance of their role in this endeavour. We do pledge to support very strongly, all efforts that would be made by the relevant authorities in the required initiatives.
We should all join hands and stand together to mitigate this worst social dilemma that has engulfed us as the material scarcities may only cause wounds that heal, but the adversities faced by our children are most likely to leave scars for a lifetime to come.”
Several ex-Cabinet ministers questioned; Ranil, Sajith, too likely to be summoned
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated an inquiry into the shifting of the Agriculture Ministry situated at Rajamalwatte, to a building belonging to the D. P. Jayasinghe Group of Companies, at Rajagiriya, during the Yahapalana government.
The building was rented for a five-year period at a cost of over Rs 1 bn by the yahapalana government within months after the then President Maithripala Sirisena declared opened the 10-storey building complex.
The CIABOC yesterday morning recorded former yahapalana minister Gayantha Karunatilleke’s statement in connection with the investigation. Later in the day, CIABOC recorded the statement of SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabanadara. Earlier CIABOC summoned former ministers Thalatha Atukorale, Wajira Abeywardena and Lakshman Kiriella. At the time of the finalisation of the deal, KIriella was in the UNP.
Sources said that former PM and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, was likely to be questioned in this regard. Responding to The Island queries, sources pointed out even SJB leader Sajith Premadasa was expected to be questioned.
The then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is on record as having said that the building was rented in keeping with a decision taken by the government and not Parliament.
The UNP-SLFP coalition shifted the Agriculture Ministry to accommodate 16 Sectoral Oversight Committees therein.
Although the government paid as much as Rs. 21.5 mn monthly rent to D.P.A. Jayasinghe Company, the Agriculture Ministry failed to move in for over a year. The then Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake sought Cabinet approval on Dec 1, 2015 to rent the building.
According to inquiries conducted earlier by the Presidential Commission appointed to probe state sector corruption, the Agriculture Ministry sought Cabinet approval for a new building after the then Prime Minister Wickremesinghe submitted a cabinet proposal on 21 September, 2015, to use the Agriculture Ministry building for Parliament’s sectoral oversight committees.
PM Wickremesinghe’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has told the Commission that public funds could have been saved if the several vacant floors of Suhurupaya belonging to the Defence Ministry had been made available to the Agriculture Ministry.
By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️
Railway sources said that the damages caused to railway tracks could be more than USD 300 mn.
According to UNDP Rapid Crisis Assessment Sri Lanka’s railroad system, over 278 km of railways were exposed to cyclone-related flooding, including 35 railroad bridges nationwide. This figure reflects flooding only, but other hazards (such as localised debris, landslides, or damage to a single bridge) can also disrupt operations, meaning that even relatively small obstructions can render long stretches of railway non-operational. Like road exposure, railway exposure limits mobility and the capacity of affected populations to access key services and infrastructure.
At the level of divisional secretariats, Colombo and Thimbirigasyaya in Colombo District, Ja Ela in Gampaha District, as well as Mannar Town and Nanaddan in Mannar District all registered over 10 km of exposed railways each.
Commissioner-General of Essential Services B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi is on record as having said that only 478 kilometers of Sri Lanka’s 1,593-km railway network were currently usable following extensive damage caused by the recent cyclone.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker arrived in Colombo yesterday (11) to underscore US interest in defence, trade and maritime security in line with their Indo-Pacific strategy.
The US embassy here issued the following statement: “Under Secretary Hooker will meet with Sri Lankan counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, focused on deepening economic and commercial ties, strengthening defence cooperation, and supporting Sri Lanka’s economic and maritime sovereignty.
The United States and Sri Lanka share a strong and enduring partnership rooted in our mutual commitment to regional security, economic growth, and prosperity for our peoples. Through close cooperation on defence, trade, and maritime security, we are working together to advance a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
As we continue to build on our strategic partnership, the United States also stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they respond to the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah. We remain committed to working together to address both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities for our two nations, reflecting our ongoing commitment to the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership.”
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