SLA demands clarification on LTTE event held in school

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 April 2003, 00:02 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army’s (SLA) regional headquarters in Vavuniya has sought clarification from the Director of the Vavuniya South Zonal Education Division and the principal of the Vavuniya Nelukulam Kalaimahal Maha Vidyalayam, as to how permission was granted to hold a commemoration ceremony of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam at the school on March 21, sources in Vavuniya said.

The SLA’s demand for clarification has come as a complete surprise to many people as the school had sought and obtained permission from the Department of Education and the police to hold the event at the school.

A meeting between the LTTE and the SLA’s commanding officer in Vavuniya in the presence of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials will be held on April 21 to discuss the issue, the sources said.

The SLA in its demand had cited its earlier stern warning to education officials and school principals that, students should not be allowed to engage in political action, and the circular by the Sri Lankan government that schools should not be used for political purposes.

When the matter was brought to the notice of the LTTE’s political division in Vavuniya, they notified the head of the SLMM, and the SLMM has arranged the April 21 meeting, the sources said.