Army circular creates stir in Jaffna education circle

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 March 2005, 14:39 GMT]
Major General Sunil Tennekon, Jaffna area commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Wednesday instructed all Zonal Directors of Education in the Jaffna district in writing to submit their explanation in regard to the participation of students in school uniform during public agitations held so far. In response Jaffna education establishment has said that the army has no right to call for explanation from education officials except the education ministry, education sources said.

Major General Sunil Tennekon has mentioned names of few schools regarding this matter in his letter sent from Palaly military headquarters, sources said.

However an official of the Jaffna education office said they are only answerable to the Ministry of Education and not to army officials. SLA officials are frequently raising such questions since the signing of the ceasefire agreement. " We are prepared to answer if the education ministry calls for explanation regarding the participation of students in street agitation in their school uniforms. We cannot allow the army officials to intervene in our administration," said the official.