We normally do not run editorials from local newspapers here, but perhaps today’s editorial from ‘Daily News’ raises some interesting points which we believe needs further discussion. This reproduction does not mean we agree or disagree with any of the points raised. (Question mark in the tile is added by us) – Ed ________________________________________________________________________ A THRIVING DEMOCRACY, Sri Lanka allows free expression of ideas. Protests and strikes have thus become part and parcel of our political landscape. Unfortunately, they have almost supplanted the other time-honoured way of resolving disputes – negotiations.
Students of the tsunami devastated Devapathiraja Vidyalaya, Rathgama who are in temporary sheds are dreaming of well facilitated classrooms assured in the couple of new buildings that majestically stand opposite to them but reality seems far away due to the sluggish construction process.Nearly 2,000 students are in the national school. They were once battered by the tsunami in 2004 and since then they are constantly battling with rain and scorching sun, Junior Past Pupils’ Association’s Vice President D.Amarajeewa Rajakaruna said. Following repeated requests by the Association, the Japanese Government agreed to provide Rs.
(LeN, 2007 Oct 05 6.20 PM) Police attacked the Yovun Diriya job prospective graduates with tear gas, water jets and baton charges today. The graduates were sitting in the Colombo Fort Telecom roundabout since yesterday protesting peacefully. The Chairman of the Graduates Collective Prasad Bandara Herath said to ‘LeN’ that 20 protesters were hospitalized and around 20 more have been taken into police custody. The male, female and bhikku protesters as well as the commuters, pedestrians and the shop dwellers were put in severe inconvenience by the police assault.
(Lanka-E-news, 2007 Oct 04, 9.30 PM) Two thousand and eighty eight job expecting graduates who were trained under Tharuna Aruna program commenced a sit in campaign near the Telecom roundabout today (04) morning. The Chairman of the Graduates Collective Prasad Bandara Herath said to Lanka-e-News that none of the 2088 graduates were granted jobs despite the promises of the Ministers and the Presidential Secretary. He said that this was the seventh protest campaign and if the President would not give a satisfactory solution to their problems a fast unto death would be commenced tomorrow and it can end up with setting ablaze to the bodies. The secretary of the union Thilak Rasnayaka said that the current Ministers were ushered to their positions by them and neither a Minister nor a secretary nor a single adviser came to talk to them.
The Education Forum held the first of its discussion series on education (in Sinhala and Tamil) yesterday, Oct 4, 2007, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. The first featured presentation (Presentation_IUSF) was by Duminda Nagamuwa of the inter University Federation of Students. He gave a succinct presentation about the crisis in education cutting down an original 48 slides to 12 , respecting our request to limit the presentation to 20 minutes. There was agreement that we have a crisis in education, although we did not have time to debate the statistics presented. More important was the lively debate that followed on the roots of the crisis.
Viluthu is a center for human resource development focusing particularly on the HR capacity in the North and the East (www.viluthu.org). When the Education Forum held its first discussion on the proposed new education act, the featured presentations were by the Inter University Federation of Students, but the first presentation by the students about the Crisis in Education generated a lively discussion leaving little time for presenting Viluthu’s work on education reforms. We will post Viluthu’s recommendations separately but more important is the effort by Viluthu to raise the qualty of education in the Tamil medium.
I have been asked by Mr. R.I.T. Alles to accept the first copy of his autobiography, R.
The Education Forum together with the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute is initiating a series of discussions on new education legislation. The objective of the series is to maximize the participation of civil society in the education policy process — from making submissions to the expert committee at the ministry of education to informing and educating parliamentarians. Date and time:   October 4, 3:30 – 5:30 Place:                 Sri Lanka Foundation Institute Language:          Sinhala with Tamil and English translations as needed Following is the program for meeting #1 1. Introduction, 10 minutes    (Sri Lanka Foundation Institute and The Education Forum) 2. Education Reform Process, 15 minutes    (Ministry of Education) 3.
The Health Ministry will call for fresh applications from 750 overseas qualified medical graduates for internship appointments after the Sri Lanka Medical Council said its list was not accurate.The Council has informed the Ministry that the list prepared by it lacks precision. The Ministry said appointments will not be made based on this list which would offends students’ sense of fairplay and lead to legal action further delaying the selection process. The Health Ministry has decided to prepare a fresh list for this purpose and the candidates could furnish their applications today (03) at the National Blood Centre, Narahenpita from 9.00 a.
Education in the Sri Lanka Law College would be conducted in English medium by 2010. This decision was taken following discussions with the Students Union of the Law College, said Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva (PC).The Chief Justice was speaking at the celebration to mark the first year anniversary of the Sri Lanka Law College Foundation. He said there was a tremendous draw back in the legal education in English medium and this decision was taken to produce talented attorneys-at-law.