No circular issued for see-through school bags - Akila
Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam yesterday denied that the Education Ministry has issued a circular that requires school bags to be made transparent or see-through for easily identification of the contents in them.
Commenting on the media reports that several school principals had ordered students and parents to bring books and other utensils and food boxes in see-through bags, Minister said school principals have been permitted to take appropriate action to ensure the security of students, teachers and school with the coordination of the Police and armed forces.
Terrorists will not send bombs in school bags today like what the LTTE did during their day
The media on Monday highlighted the inconvenience faced by students and parents when they arrived at schools with normal school bags but denied entrance to school by those who checked their bags. At certain other schools, students were asked to enter the school after leaving their school bags on the floor at the entrance to the school which was criticized by students and parents.
Meanwhile, the ‘Foundation for Peoples Rights Protection’ (FPRP) said this was a deal under the guise of National Security.
In a statement issued under the signature of Asela Sampath and Chirantha Amarasinghe, the FPRP charged that a percentage from the financial benefit collected from the see-through school bag deal goes to the election campaign of the President.
“Terrorists will not send bombs in school bags today like what the LTTE did during their day. The terrorists have made big strides with the advancement of technology and they have new methods to destroy lives and property. Besides, parents who are trying to make ends meet cannot purchase a new see-through bag for their school kids paying about Rs. 1,800 per bag,” the FPRP said.
The FPRP stressed that see-through bags were not an immediate requirement as the law and order has been restored in the country and added that creating a bomb scare in schools could be an attempt to perpetuate the concept of a Police State.