UVA CM RESIGNS AS EDUCATION MINISTER

Allegation of making a Principal kneel down Sends letters of demand claiming compensation of Rs. 500 million for defamation

Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake told the media yesterday that he had resigned as Uva Province Minister of Education to allow a formal investigation on the allegation that he forced a lady Principal of Badulla Tamil Girls’ School to kneel down before him.

He said that he had already informed this decision to the Uva Province Governor M.P. Jayasinghe and the IGP.

He said his rivals and the media had resorted to a malicious propaganda against him to tarnish his image and to sabotage his election campaign to support President Maithripala Sirisena.

He said he was prepared to resign even from the post of Chief

Although the rivals level malicious attacks against me the Principal concerned has not lodged a complaint with Police

Minister if the allegations were established at formal investigations.

“Although the rivals level malicious attacks against me the Principal concerned has not lodged a complaint with Police.

“However I made a complaint to Badulla Division SP and requested him to hold a formal investigation into the allegation.

“I have already sent letters of demand claiming compensation of Rs. 500 million from Provincial Council and the Ceylon Teachers Union and I will file an action against them for defamation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ceylon Teachers’ Union in a press communiqué last morning said Chief Minister Dasanayaka’s resignation from the post of Uva Province Education Minister was an attempt to hoodwink the people.

“He should have resigned from the post of Chief Minister if he really wanted to allow a formal investigation,” it said.

General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union Joseph Stalin said it was difficult to hold an inquiry against a Chief Minister who was in power.

He said the teachers and the principals were not gullible to the Chief Minister’s attempt to mislead them.