The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, we are debating three Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act and nine Resolutions under the Appropriation Act—intended to stem economic decline, stabilize and stimulate growth. However, the Northern Province, which I represent, faces long‑term problems. Our contribution to GDP is last among provinces. We therefore need serious, structural policy interventions.

¶ 02 I raise the issue of education—the foundation of development. In the Northern Province, under the provincial administration controlled by the Governor, education is being deliberately undermined through abuses of “transfers based on exigencies of service.” Transfers can be annual, exigency‑based, or disciplinary. Exigency transfers are valid only when: (1) an urgent need exists in a particular school; (2) a specific teacher’s service is particularly required; or (3) keeping a teacher at a station causes disturbances. Despite this, without consultation with teacher unions, the provincial authorities arbitrarily transferred 193 teachers citing exigencies.

¶ 03 The Establishments Code, Chapter III, Section 3.3, states: “One or more Transfer Boards should be set up in every Department which has twenty five or more transferable officers.” Similar provisions are in the Northern Provincial Public Service Procedural Regulations (Gazette Extraordinary No. 1817/30 of 03.07.2013). Gazette Extraordinary No. 2310/29 of 14.12.2022, Section 259, further provides: “Before a public officer is transferred on exigencies of service, the Appointing Authority … shall satisfy himself that a need has actually arisen … and that the transfer concerned cannot be deferred till the next annual transfers.” Section 208 of the Provincial Procedural Regulations reiterates that such transfers should be within “annual transfers” unless the strict exigency criteria are met.

¶ 04 Due to these irregularities, many teachers who received annual transfers have not been released by the Northern Provincial authorities. Appeals by affected teachers have been handled by the Northern Provincial Public Service Commission in a politically influenced, discriminatory and vindictive manner, violating fundamental rights and livelihoods.

¶ 05 Further irregularities include victimizing teachers contrary to Section 4.4 of the Northern Provincial Transfer Policy; despite the Island Zone, Vadamarachchi East and similar areas being treated as equivalent to outstations up to 2025 by Transfer Board decisions, only certain teachers were selectively victimized. Many have completed over six years in such areas; several submitted medical documents, yet they were targeted for speaking to media against injustices. Teachers teaching English‑medium subjects were transferred under “service requirement” without actual need in receiving schools, harming students’ rights. Meanwhile, teachers with over six years in the Island Zone were sent out, while individuals who never served in outstations were brought into the Island Zone. That is discriminatory.

¶ 06 If the Government is genuine in not discriminating against the North and East, and truly wants the Northern Province—presently last in GDP contribution—to develop, the last thing it should do is act arbitrarily and discriminatorily in education. The Governor and Province come directly under the President. Thank you.