The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, my first supplementary is this.

¶ 02 During the war period too, in difficult schools such as in Monaragala District, it was acting principals who kept the schools running. In Badulla District estate-sector schools as well, particularly in Haputale, Nayabedda, Namunukula and other hill schools, acting principals served. The same applies to border villages, including Polonnaruwa. For 15–20 years, acting principals have carried these schools.

¶ 03 We have recruited graded principals multiple times, but they capture urban schools, leaving small schools with fewer than 100 students to acting principals. I repeatedly raised this during Hon. Susil Premajayantha’s tenure as Minister of Education; he said a Cabinet Paper would make them permanent in Class III, but no approval was given. The current answer implies acting principals will simply be sent home. There is even an MP from Kegalle District who serves as an acting principal. Over time, union activity increased their numbers, yet no Government delivered justice. Now they expect this Government to do so. The Cabinet Paper has been rejected; the Department of Management Services has also not approved it. So give us a straight answer: will you recruit them, or remove them? There is no answer on their future.

¶ 04 At the very least, place them in Class III and fulfil their expectations. Their case in court has been withdrawn by consent.