Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha has been accused of preventing D.S. Senanayake College from holding a programme on 08 July for its advanced level students by renowned academic Prof. Gomika Udugamasooriya.
According to political sources, the minister had intervened to prevent his presence at the programme, saying the professor has leanings towards a particular political party.
He has been a pioneering figure in the drafting of NPP’s science and technology policy.
According to reports reaching ‘Lanka Leader’, the minister however had allowed MP Udaya Gammanpila to be a guest, along with the principal of Anula Vidyalaya, Colombo, at the E.W. Adikaram-R.I.T. Alles memorial debate on 25 June.
Past students of the school question as to how the minister could politicize the programme that was to be attended by Prof. Udugamasooriya, but looked the other way when Gammanpila, labelled a racist politician, attended the debate as its chief guest.
Also, the minister tolerates political meetings being held by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa across the country, they noted.