Govt. attempting to harm free education: Bandula

• Says effort to expand semi-government schools will infringe on free education

By Nuwan Senarathna 

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) lawmaker Bandula Gunawardana this week called on President Maithripala Sirisena to suspend a Cabinet paper, presented by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam last year, which would allow semi-government schools to establish five branches of the same school across the country. 

“Since the Cabinet paper was approved, President Maithripala Sirisena has responsibility for this action, as he is the head of the Cabinet. Therefore we request him to take immediate action over this controversial Cabinet paper,” Gunawardana told reports at Vajirasramaya in Punchi Borella.

According to Gunawardana, the Cabinet had given approval to Cabinet Paper No. 18/0850/742/017,which was presented by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam to allow semi-government schools to establish five branches,on26 April 2018. 

He claimed the Cabinet paper presented by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam had revealed that seven semi-government schools had already established nine branches across the country. However, he declined to name the relevant schools.  

“The Cabinet paper stated that 80 semi-government schools exist under the Assisted School and Training Colleges Act No.5 of 1960. According to the Cabinet paper, semi-government schools have been managed as private entities under the supervision of the Ministry of Education,” he added.  Based on the Cabinet paper, Gunawardana argued all 80 semi-government schools could establish five branches,which would lead to 400 new semi-government schools.Gunawardana argued such schools would damage free education. 

“Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has deceived the Cabinet by hiding dangerous clauses at the very end of the Cabinet paper,” he charged. However, in April, the National Government was still in existence, and Parliamentarians of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), of which Gunawardana is a member, were part of the Cabinet of Ministers.  

Gunawardana said the Government was on a mission to privatise free education, and challenged Kariyawasam to a public debate on the Cabinet paper.