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UNP Deputy Leader questions grey matter of ruling politicians

Published

4 years ago

2021/10/19

UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene says that there is a serious doubt whether some ruling party politicians had actually attended school or what type of education some of them had during their schooling when considering the statements, the latter make with regard to ongoing trade union action by teachers and principals.

Speaking to UNP youth wing members during a meeting at the Sirikotha yesterday, Wijewardene said that some ruling party politicians were instigating people against striking teachers. “Some threaten to impale teachers on poles if they do not report to work on Thursday (21). Those politicians have got their thugs to threaten and intimidate teachers. Some ministers are speaking of getting the police to act against teachers. Teacher unionists complain that persons who identify themselves as intelligence officers visit their homes and threaten to drag them by force to the schools. Some MPs speak on TV asking people to hurl rotten eggs at teachers. We have a doubt whether these people had attended schools at least for a single day,” Wijewardene said.

He said that it was a fundamental right recognized by the Constitution of the country for anyone to exercise their trade union rights and as per the provisions of the Labour Code those engaged in trade union actions could not be punished. “This is the government that came to power stating that they had been voted in by the maha sangha, teachers, doctors, farmers and labourers. Now the very same government sees the striking teachers as a bunch of terrorists. The government in the face of a strike by teachers and principals has stooped down to the level of village thugs. We do not think that threats, intimidation and harassment would solve this problem. The government instead should sit down to talk to the teachers and address their genuine grievances,” Wijewardene said.

The UNP Deputy Leader said that the government was engaged in a campaign to destroy the country’s agro-economy and in the meantime destroying its education system.

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There is a shortage of 40,000 Teachers Island wide – Prime Minister

Published

6 hours ago

2025/05/22

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that there is currently a shortage of 40,000 teachers across the country, and that the government expects to recruit a certain number of the required vacancies by the end of this year.

The Prime Minister made these remarks in Parliament on Wednesday (21), while responding to a question raised by the member of the opposition, Mujibur Rahuman.

The Prime Minister further stated:

“There are currently 4,240 teacher vacancies in the Sinhala medium and 2,827 in the Tamil medium for Grades 1 to 5 in government schools. The number of vacancies form Grades 6 to 11 reported 11,274 in the Sinhala medium and 6,121 in the Tamil medium.

In the Western Province alone, government schools report 1,310 Sinhala medium and 302 Tamil medium teacher shortages for Grades 1 to 5. For Grades 6 to 11, the vacancies stand at 1,325 for Sinhala medium teachers and 397 for Tamil medium teachers. As a whole, nationwide there are 40,000 vacancies for teachers.

The Public Service Commission has issued a recommendation that recruitments to fill the vacancies in the Ministry of Education should be done through an examination-based process. Currently, there is an ongoing court case regarding the recruitment of graduates into the teaching profession. Taking all these matters into consideration, attention is being directed towards recruiting graduates to fill the existing teacher vacancies.

However, the Prime Minister reiterated that the government expects to fill at least a certain number of the required vacancies by the end of this year.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Poson Week will be observed from June 7 to June 13

Published

6 hours ago

2025/05/22

Priyan

The Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, Ven. Walawahengunawewa Dhammarathana Thero, expressed his appreciation to the government for its decision to hold the Poson Festival 2025 with full state patronage.

The Nayaka Thero made these remarks during a discussion held on Wednesday (21) at the Presidential Secretariat regarding the State Poson Festival 2025.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs , Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Venerable Dhammarathana Thero further reiterated that it is the responsibility of the government to reinstate the State Poson Festival, which has been on hold since 2023, and to safeguard it for the benefit of future generations.

The theme of this year’s State Poson Festival will be “May the world be enlightened by the teachings of Buddha.”

In line with the State Poson Festival, a series of religious programmes focusing on offerings of both material and doctrinal significance will commence from June 1.

Poson Week will be observed from June 7 to June 13. During this period, it was decided to close all liquor outlets in the Anuradhapura District to maintain the sanctity of the observances.

Special attention was also drawn to ensuring that all necessary facilities are provided for the thousands of pilgrims expected to visit Anuradhapura during the festival period.

Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, instructed state officials to take appropriate measures to facilitate the successful conduct of the State Poson Festival.

Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Director General of Buddhist Affairs R.M.P. Rathnayake and other Heads of institutions were also present at the occasion.

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‘India-UK FTA could adversely impact SL apparel exports’

Published

10 hours ago

2025/05/22

Sahan Weerasooriya

NEXT factory closure in Katunayake ominous sign: Trade Exprt

One-time Director General of Commerce, Gomi Senadhira, has warned that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the United Kingdom, signed on 06 May, could cause a significant drop in Sri Lanka garment exports to the UK.

The FTA is expected to take effect in January 2026. In an exclusive article to The Island––carried in today’s edition––Senadhira has said that the FTA will provide India with a nearly 10 percent tariff advantage. India would gain at the expense of other exporters, including Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s former Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation, from January 2004 to December 2006, said.

Senadhira

The trade expert, contacted for comment, following the sudden closure of the NEXT Katunayake production unit, said it was an ominous sign. NEXT is the largest apparel retailer in the UK and perhaps NEXT factories are the only manufacturing plants owned by a British retailer in Sri Lanka.

Senadhira also chaired the WTO Committee on Trade and Development (2005). Prior to his appointment in Geneva, he served as the Minister (Commercial and Economic Affairs) in the Sri Lanka Mission to European Communities in Brussels (2001 – 2003) and the Embassy of Sri Lanka, Washington D.C. (1998 – 2001).

Senadhira has found fault with the government for its failure to address the issues at hand while underscoring the importance of public discussions with trade chambers, think tanks, exporters and the media.

The independent trade consultant has explained how Sri Lanka’s exports to the UK eroded over the years, primarily due to our failure to face competition from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Pakistan and Vietnam.