News
JVP-led CTSU threatens protests against VAT on school materials
JVP-led Ceylon Teachers Service Union threatens street protests against VAT stationery, books and school equipment.
CTSU General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe, addressing the media at the National Trade Union Centre headquarters in Dehiwala said: “It is no secret that people are living under tremendous pressure and hardships owing to the VAT increase. The government has increased the VAT while it has not cut its expenses. Now the parents are confronted with a new problem of buying books, stationery and school equipment for their children under new prices.”
School education has become unaffordable to most parents because of the prices of these items, Jayasinghe said. “It was recently reported that 54% of schoolchildren cannot afford school education. That was before the introduction of VAT. It seems that the government must be thinking that it could perpetuate its rule by denying education to the public. The government ministers now call on people to come to their rallies and meetings promising schoolbooks and stationery for their children.
“We demand that this VAT on educational materials be removed with immediate effect. The governments in the past exempted educational materials from VAT. We have commenced talks with other teacher unions and parents’ organisations on a collective campaign against VAT on educational material. If the government fails to do so by the beginning of the new term, we’ll take to the streets,” Jayasinghe said.
CTSU Administrative Secretary Lal Kumara, Vice President Visakha Abeyratne and Vice Secretary Yalini Ganga Suthan also addressed the press.
The upcoming academic year is scheduled to commence on 19 Feb., marking the initiation of the first school term.
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).
‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’
Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.
Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.
‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.
Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.
Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.
Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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