Probe over student protest

26 February 2010 01:52 pm - 38 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A group of students in Pandura held a protest this morning calling on the adults to take action against the spread of dengue and to help clean the environment to minimize its spread. The Secretary for the Education Ministry Mr. Nimal Bandara when contacted stated that it was unlawful to use students for protests and that a probe would be held regarding the incident. (ISA)

Students at the protest (ISA)

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Comments - 38

Saturday, 27 February 2010 06:33 AM

True Sri Lankan,
How true are you? Don't be silly. It may be an anti-government r may be an anti-opposition. That's not te point. These kids even wouldn't know what Dengue is or how it spreads or even who is responsible foranything. Somebody wrote the slogans and asked them to goto the road. It is a crime, a serious criminal offence. The guys who send them t road should never be anywhere near kids and they need a good lesson.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 01:25 AM

Mr. Minister please look at the stats and you will find a majority of victims were children under 15. It is no doubt that MPs' children live under AC roofs and travel in luxury vehicles but if you look at your pasts you might recognize that there is an insect called mosquito and some are deadly. I think those children have more rights to protest than anyone else. Also, I will not be surprised if you and your government will take legal steps against those poor children.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 01:30 AM

Every citizen has his/her fundamental rights and it is taught by their families and teachers. I personally believe that children should be taught to stand up or their rights from their small ages. Every country needs active citizens not scarecrows.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 02:44 AM

Only the Government in power take any one to strees to protest. This is the set up in our country.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 02:44 AM

Oh great! waste time on trying to find who's behind this.

who cares as to who is behind organizing this campaign!
Spend that time to work together in eradicating Dengue!

Saturday, 27 February 2010 03:16 AM

this is the subject to the ministry of education . the secretay Mr Nimial have to solve the poblem . his answer was unlawful it your meaningless answer.. please face the problem, if its in westran countries you will be send home. it prove .srilanka administration is very poor .

Saturday, 27 February 2010 04:48 AM

Why not children have every right to protest ,when their health is in danger due to the inefficiency of the Health
Dept.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 05:01 AM

What ever said and done dengue is more dangerous for very old and for young children ... its needless to say very old can stage a protest. and todays democrazy lanka young adult protest may be considered un-patriotic ! we should ask Tharunyata hetak to protest ! for dengue not for campaigning for elections

Saturday, 27 February 2010 05:09 AM

they are the future of our country they have the right to express themselves

there have being many deaths over the last year due to dengue and the health minister is yet unable to find a solution or take an action for the spread of dengue without wasting time on trying to figure out about students taking part in protest first of all try and find a solution to stop the spread of dengue.....

Saturday, 27 February 2010 05:35 AM

A probe would be held regarding children in the protest, but has he mentioned any action to prevent dengue?

What is more important? Prevent dengue or take action against the protest?

Friday, 26 February 2010 11:58 PM

Kids are the most vulnerable to Dengue, so why wait for protests? Tackle the real problem! Eradicate Dengue!

Saturday, 27 February 2010 06:34 AM

It's not the government who oppress these kids its those who wrote the placards and asked them to hold them in the street. Don't be ignorant please.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 06:45 AM

Afzal,
Sorry about this question but can you read Sinhala? Because the verses written on placards are work of adults not kids. The kids didn't write them or not standing up to any right. They are standing and shouting their for some politically malfunctioning idiots' right. Also holding placard made by an idiot. These must be politically bankrupt teachers who made them. They must be taken out of school and lash in the street in public like in Saudi Arabia.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 08:30 AM

Why not arrest the kids and set another world record?+

Saturday, 27 February 2010 08:56 AM

What safety when dengue is present in the classroom. Someone must bring the matter to the notice of the lazy education bosses.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 08:59 AM

The bosses send their kids to Royal or Internationals - only the poor at Panadura suffer - and according to Sec Edu = they must suffer in silence.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 09:02 AM

So you will not address the real issue which is dengue but go for the children or the protestors behind - get real.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 09:05 AM

Yes - kill the messenger for bringing bad news Ha Ha.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 09:32 AM

It is a pretext to destroy water-bodies around residencies whereas the mosquitoes breed in isolated places and in large irrigation tanks and lakes. By burning the green around together with the hydro eco system destruction warming increases with more carbon emission and it causes lung diseases- phlegm related- those protest against dengue deaths also should protest against tuberculosis pneumonia and other water borne or dehydration related illness. The solution lies removing garbage every day and watching water pools for mosquito eating larvae and other flora and fauna like dragon fly, frogs and water snake. Small children may not know all these related things only university graduates or undergraduates studying biology that too environment biology river pond lagoon marsh land eco system research students can discern. Can the authorities involve them without incentives?

Friday, 26 February 2010 05:35 PM

The spreading of Dengue should not be tolerated at all. But, shouldn’t these kids be studying, instead, within the safety of their school environment?

Friday, 26 February 2010 02:32 PM

That means Dengu is to be allowed freely to spred. Good secretary. Jail the protestors.

Friday, 26 February 2010 02:48 PM

Come on don't be ignorant. Do you really think kids themselves organized this event? some organization is behind this and it is unethical to use children for their propaganda

Friday, 26 February 2010 02:49 PM

This may treated as anti-government protest.

Friday, 26 February 2010 03:35 PM

Just goes to show how useless the current govt is. They are willing to oppress even kids.

Friday, 26 February 2010 03:40 PM

Ranjith, I agree with you but you should agree with the facts of so dengue related deaths and govt was lethargic take any tangible actions to curb it.

Friday, 26 February 2010 04:24 PM

Government alone cannot stop the spread of dengue. Every citizen should take responsibility. Go out of your houses and see so many things that help breed mosqitoes. Children can take lead and educate parents.

Friday, 26 February 2010 04:50 PM

Let the adults & leaders of the system, learn from children! It is the children of poor families who suffer & die from dengue. Only those who have suffered & those who have lost their loved ones, due to dengue, feel it. Have any politicians lost their family members due to dengue? Keep it up children, let the freedom of voice prevail!

Friday, 26 February 2010 04:54 PM

Kids are smarter than you think.

Friday, 26 February 2010 05:32 PM

The health minister is concerned only about securing his position, by throwing money. No ministers are truly devoted to serving the nation ... It's not wrong then that school children should come to the streets and make an awareness effort to control dengue, the dreaded disease. If the health minister is sleeping, let the students wake him up and get him to do something to protect the rest of the people from dengue.

Friday, 26 February 2010 02:08 PM

How many were arrested ?? If Adults are not concern anything then kids should do

Friday, 26 February 2010 05:47 PM

Very bad that they are teaching innocent children to protest ...

Friday, 26 February 2010 05:53 PM

This is the standard operating procedure of certain groups. They start with stirring-up students, for some innocuous reason, get a few arrested or beaten-up, and then, try to escalate it ... We have seen this over and over again.

Friday, 26 February 2010 05:57 PM

I can understand the stand taken by these kids to have the issues faced by them addressed. But, to think that the government could penalise 'kids,' is absolutely ludicrous. If the parents of these kids have taken them out of school to attend an event like this, what sort of example are they setting? Taking kids out of a learning environment and putting them into a political environment - this is wrong! Let's not jump to conclusions everyone ... let's see who is really behind this.

Friday, 26 February 2010 06:07 PM

For the sake of ruling party, students can be used, but not for the common cause ? ? ? Your Minister of Health is the worst, of all Health Ministers that we have had so far.

Friday, 26 February 2010 07:01 PM

All relevant officials should have commended these students for being aware of this epidemic. It promotes dengue awareness and prevention in other schools as well. Instead of using their 'iron fists' to stop meaningful demonstrations, why can't Ministers and MPs join such students and clean the mosquito breeding places, without just sitting in their air-conditioned luxury offices?

Friday, 26 February 2010 08:39 PM

Don't be so narrow-minded. Children are the most prone to dengue deaths. If the health ministry doesn't do anything about it, what alternative do they have?

Friday, 26 February 2010 10:48 PM

Kids have rights too! If we adults don't care, they are forced to take charge. It is not just the government - every citizen has a responsibility to keep the environment clean.

Friday, 26 February 2010 11:34 PM

In this instance, the students have engaged themselves in a worthy endeavour to create an awareness about a significant national health problem that poses a potential threat to their lives. They also have conveyed a clear message - that the adults in general and the health authorities in particular have not been doing enough to arrest the spread of the deadly dengue epidemic. In fact, it is an indictment served by the students on these parties for the failure involved on their part.

Adults and Health authorities, please pick up the intended message and atempt to do somelthing constructive in mitigation of the problem.

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Probe over student protest

Comments - 38

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