A heated debate erupted in Parliament as Prime Minister and Minister of Education Harini Amarasuriya defended her stance on politicians attending school functions, stating that there is no law prohibiting their participation.
Addressing the issue, she clarified that her previous remarks were misrepresented by the media and that she had only emphasized the importance of keeping schools free from political influence. She insisted that no official restrictions had been imposed but accused the media of spreading misinformation regarding her statement.
The controversy arose after opposition members questioned how government ministers continued to attend school functions despite what was perceived as a government directive banning such participation.
However, contradicting the Prime Minister’s latest remarks, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Media Division on September 26 explicitly mentioned that the education authorities had been instructed to immediately stop inviting politicians to school events.
The conflicting statements have sparked political tension, putting the Prime Minister under scrutiny as critics demand clarification on the government’s actual stance regarding political involvement in educational institutions.
