Mar 08, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), says leading schools in capital Colombo collect massive sums of money annually as school development fees.

JVP Propaganda Secretary and parliamentarian Vijitha Herath told parliament that a leading school in Colombo collects a sum of Rs. 48,384,000 annually as school development fees.

He made this statement during an adjournment motion moved by him in the House on funds being collected by schools.

Herath said the Education Ministry in 2008 had issued a circular enabling all school principals to collect money in way of funds or any other means.

"Principals were granted authority to collect monies through the 2008/35 circular, which said schools should find on their own, the money needed for the development or any other additional facility provided to students," the JVP MP has said.

According to Herath, school fees in prestigious boys' school in Colombo, the Royal College includes Rs. 1,020 for the security fund, Rs. 780 for the record books and stationary fund, Rs. 420 for the library fund, Rs. 720 for the sports fund, Rs. 720 for the electricity fund, Rs. 600 for technological expenses fund, Rs. 480 for the repair and maintenance fund, Rs. 480 for the sanitary services fund and another Rs. 480 as miscellaneous expenses fund, apart from the Rs.60 collected from each student from Grades 6 to 11 as facility fees.

He has added that there are 8,400 students at Royal College and that monies are also collected from students even in rural schools.