SLA order: no Tiger flags in schools

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 November 2003, 16:57 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army's Jaffna area commander, Major General Sarath Fonseka, has instructed all the five zonal directors of education in the Jaffna district not to allow any public events to take place in school premises during school hours. The circular issued in this regard has asked all education officials not to allow students and teachers to attend events in public places in school uniforms, education sources said.

The circular has categorically asked the zonal directors not to allow hoisting of Tiger flag in any event inside school premises, sources said.

The circular has been issued in the wake of elaborate arrangements being made to conduct the Maveerar (Great Heroes) Day celebrations in the Jaffna district next week, education sources said.

The circular pointed to several instances where students have participated in functions outside schools in school uniforms, and said that the organizers of such events should take the responsibility for any consequences.

Meanwhile, an army officer located in the Thenmaradchchi division of Jaffna recently questioned a head of a school in the area in connection with some students participating in sramadana (volunteering) campaign in renovating the Kodikamam Maveerar Thuyilum Illam (mausoleum), education sources said.