• CTSU & CTU warn Yukthiya not to overstep jurisdiction

The education sector trade unions, the Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) and the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), urged the Government not to conduct any investigations in school premises that could be a mental and physical disturbance to students.

In the wake of the Public Security Ministry and the Police Department planning to “eradicate” the drug menace around schools in parallel to the “Yukthiya (Justice)” operation and launching new initiatives with the idea of crippling the drug supply chain, the teacher trade unions yesterday opined that the Police and other law enforcement authorities should not conduct any investigation inside schools. 

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (25), the CTSU General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said that the students could be mentally and physically disturbed, and their learning process be disrupted due to such investigations. He noted that they understood the need to eradicate the drug menace from schools, but that it can only be achieved through a comprehensive programme, not through "script driven" programmes. Jayasinghe also alleged that such programmes are  being introduced from time to time for the popularity of the Government party, yet, neither teachers nor students will be benefited. He noted that such programmes should be implemented very carefully since their consequences could directly affect children.

CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin told The Daily Morning yesterday that the union is strongly against any kind of investigation conducted inside schools and reiterated that children should not be victims of someone else’s propaganda. “Several months ago, the Police checked the bags of students claiming that they brought ‘Ice' (crystal methamphetamine) to schools. But, nothing was found. This (programme) is also very similar to that. Therefore, we urge the Government not to conduct any raids inside schools,” he said.

However, the Police Department said earlier this month (January) that it is to initiate a new programme with the view of preventing the drug menace around schools and to obtain community support to make school premises and their immediate environment secure. According to the Police, a community guild called “Pawura” is to be initiated in every Police division and is supposed to be attached to every identified school throughout the island.

Education Ministry Secretary Wasantha Perera, Education Minister, attorney Dr. Susil Premajayantha and Police Media Spokesperson, Deputy Inspector General of Police and attorney Nihal Thalduwa were not available for comment yesterday.