Teachers contesting without no-pay leave

 they should have applied for no-pay leave immediately after submitting nominations and the staff grade principals should resign from their posts

By Dayaratne Embogama   

The Ceylon Teachers Union said several teachers contesting the Local Government Election have not obtained no-pay leave as required by the election law.   

President of the trade union Priyantha Fernando told the media in Anuradhapura yesterday that more than 300 school teachers have submitted nominations to contest the upcoming Local Government Election, but most of them have not obtained no-pay leave.   

He pointed out that they should have applied for no-pay leave immediately after submitting nominations and the staff grade principals should resign from their posts.   

“ However this requirement has not been fulfilled by the majority of the teachers contesting the election. This amounts to violation of the Election Law and the Elections Commisssion should take action in this regard.”  Meanwhile Anuradhapura District Secretary and Returning Officer Ranjith Wimalasooriya said any government servant contesting an election should obtain leave on the day following the day of submitting nominations or else his nomination would be liable to rejection.