Student participation in LTTE functions irks SLA commander

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 02:39 GMT]
Major General Chandrasiri, Northern Region Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Thursday warned the five Regional Directors of Education in the Jaffna peninsula, not to permit students to participate in activities outside schools during school hours, education officials in Jaffna said.

Major Chandrasiri summoned the Regional Directors of Education from Vadmarachy, Thenmarachy, Islets, Valikamam and Jaffna regions led by Ms. S. Mahalingam, Additional Director of the Provincial Educational Sector (ADPES) of Jaffna district to a meeting at the Palaly military base and reminded them of their obligation as government employees in fulfilling their duties properly.

Major Chandrasiri also stressed that no student is to be allowed to enter or return from LTTE controlled areas during school hours, educational sources said.

School administrators said Military commanders were angered by students and teachers of a popular Hindu school in Thenmarachi attending an event in Liberation Tigers controlled Pallai area recently.

Education officials raised objections and criticism against the SLA Commander for threatening and interfering in civil administration in the Jaffna peninsula, sources said.

Attendees to the meeting said the issues of recent attack on Illavali students by the SLA soldiers and the continued military occupation of schools were not discussed at this meeting.