General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin accused Army is collecting data of school children, teachers and principals in the North.
Stalin said the process had been carried out by the Army throughout the recent past and it had instilled fear in the hearts of the school children, teachers, principals and parents.
“The Army in several areas of the North is engaged in collecting data of school children and teachers, mainly in Mannar, Kilinochchi and Madhu. We have information that they have even obtained photographs of students, teachers and principals,” he said.
The Army cannot carry out the data collection process without obtaining the explicit permission from the Secretary of Education. Still they have gone ahead with it. The process has created fear psychosis among students, teachers, principals and parents alike. They are saying it is for security purposes. The whole process is illegal. We as the CTU denounce the act of the Army. If they are saying that the war is over and terrorism has been eradicated why do they go about collecting data of school children and teachers? Are they attempting to intimidate the entire school system. As the CTU we will take steps to notify the Ministry of Defence in this regard” Stalin said.
When contacted Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said the Army was not involved in any collection of data in the Northern school community .
“Such information is being propagated by certain individuals with a sinister motive to tarnish the good name of the Army,” he said.
By Gihan Nicholas
Ceylon Today