Mahindodaya lab openings on hold due to pressure

25 December 2014 10:45 am

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena today announced the plans that were underway to unveil Mahindodaya laboratories in several rural schools before the New Year, would be put on hold until the January 8 elections were over, complying with instructions issued by the Elections Commissioner.  

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo today, Mr. Gunawardena said his mission in launching an  ‘express’ unveiling of so many laboratories together, was to ensure the rural students enjoyed the benefits of the new Mahindodaya  technology labs when the new school term commenced.

He said although the plan had been misinterpreted by certain groups as a ploy to campaign for President Rajapaksa, it is all part of a plan that had been scheduled when the concept of Mahindodaya labs were initially envisioned.

“As a result of various complaints and petitions forwarded to the Elections Commissioner by the Opposition groups as well as various other trade unions affiliated with them, the EC instructed to ensure that the attendees of unveilings be restricted strictly to parents, teachers, students and education department officials. Therefore, we decided to put the unveilings on hold until the elections are over,” he said while claiming the Opposition had to take the blame for depriving rural students of the facilities they were about to enjoy through the Mahindodaya labs.

 

 

Video by Sanath Desmond