Leader of the Up-Country People’s Front and Nuwara Eliya District Member of Parliament, V. Radhakrishnan, has raised serious concerns over the lack of adequate security for opposition MPs and the potential closure of estate schools under proposed educational restructuring plans.
Speaking at a special media briefing in Hatton, Radhakrishnan who is also the Deputy Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance, said that no opposition MP currently receives sufficient protection, creating a situation where they are unable to hold meetings or interact freely with the public who elected them.
“While security should be provided equally to all 225 Members of Parliament, the government has prioritized only Ministers and MPs representing the ruling party,” he said, adding that repeated requests for equivalent security for opposition MPs have gone unanswered.
Radhakrishnan called on the government to either enhance security for all MPs or urgently establish a safe environment that allows parliamentarians and the public to travel freely without fear.
On the issue of education, the MP acknowledged that the Ministry of Education’s school restructuring plan is a commendable initiative, and praised the programme being implemented under the direction of the Prime Minister.
However, Radhakrishnan cautioned that many schools in the estate sector have fewer than 50 students, making them vulnerable to closure under the new proposals. He urged authorities to implement the restructuring programme while ensuring that these estate schools remain operational, preserving access to education for children in plantation communities.
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