Minister of Science and Technology and Wattala District MP Chrishantha Abeysena yesterday joined a protest demanding the appointment of a religious sister as the principal of the Nayakakanda Good Shepherd Convent in Wattala.
The demonstration, organised by the National Collective to Protect Catholic Schools, was held to oppose the appointment of a lay principal and to call for the continuation of the school’s long-standing tradition of religious leadership.
Catholic clergy, religious sisters, alumni, teachers, parents and past pupils of the school participated in the protest.
Speaking to reporters, MP Abeysena said the demonstration was aimed at safeguarding the traditional values of the Catholic school system and supporting the appointment of a religious sister as principal of the school.
He said the event also drew support from members of Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim communities in the area, reflecting interfaith solidarity and community unity.
“The just objectives of this protest are aimed at preserving the moral and cultural identity of our educational institutions for future generations,” the Minister said.
The protest comes amid an ongoing dispute over the appointment of a lay principal through a government transfer earlier this year.
Parents and the school’s Old Girls’ Association have argued that the move departs from the school’s long-standing practice of being headed by members of the Good Shepherd religious order, although they have stated that they have no personal objections to the newly appointed principal.
The Western Province Governor has previously said the appointment was made through established administrative procedures and that it would not be appropriate to intervene in the process already undertaken by the relevant education authorities. (Newswire)