Sept 13, Colombo: An education sector trade union in Sri Lanka criticizes the move to provide military training to selected school principals and offering them the rank of 'Colonel.'

The Ceylon Teacher Services Union (CTSU) says the move could result in the authorities eventually appointing actual military personnel as school principals.

CTSU General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said that a group of 23 selected principals from schools in Colombo are to undergo a one week training programme in Rantambe.

He explained that once the training is completed, these principals would be offered the rank of 'Colonel.'

He noted that this exercise would result in the militarization of the education system.

According to Jayasinghe, since principals are being made into Colonels and undergraduates are given military training, the next step would be to appoint real military Colonels to schools.