Novel puppet show ruined by ministry’s moral police

What would be the appropriate attire for women is a question that keeps cropping up every now and then.

Be it to Parliament, a government office or a school, different rules are introduced targeting them. These rules are set usually by different persons who seem to have their own standards.

This week, at the Education Department of the Western Province, a young lady had a bitter experience. She had gone to pursue a two-month long process to request access to low income primary schools for a puppet show on the importance of gender parity.

She had arrived by 8.30 a.m. and was seated in the waiting area when a security guard, presumably acting on orders from above, had told her that her skirt was inappropriate and she should wait outside. The lady had replied she is six months pregnant and chose the attire for her comfort.

The security guard had then told her that the appointment is cancelled. After the lady insisted that she will not leave without seeing the Provincial Director of Education, she was directed from pillar to post.

In a typical bureaucratic manner, an offer of a free performance of a topic of national importance utilising giant puppetry which is a novel concept in Sri Lanka has been lost due to the narrow mindedness of some officials of the Education Department.

It is little wonder that many who want to assist government institutions shy away from doing so due to the attitude of some state- sector officials who adopt holier than thou at t i t u d e s and engage in moral policing also.

She had arrived by 8.30 a.m. and was seated in the waiting area when a security guard, presumably acting on orders from above, had told her that her skirt was inappropriate and she should wait outside. The lady had replied she is six months pregnant and chose the attire for her comfort.