Even before the declaration of the Presidential polls, the Rajapaksa regime has kick-started their illegal campaigning activities, forcibly enrolling teachers in government schools into the Sri Lanka Freedom Party teacher union.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed his brother, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa as the campaign manager of the UPFA

The enrolments have been carried out by Acting Directors and Service Advisors – who themselves are political appointees – who have been visiting schools in education zones countrywide and forcing the teachers through principals to obtain membership in the SLFP affiliated – Sri Lanka Nidahas Guru Sangamaya (SLNGS).

Aggrieved teachers have revealed that a list of teachers unwilling to obtain membership in the SLFP teacher union has been requested from each school and they have been informed that the eligibility to remain entitled to the motorcycles promised to those in the teachers service through budget 2015 would depend on their willingness to be part of the SLNGS.

Moreover, these Acting Directors and Service Advisors have also been holding meetings within schools for teachers that seeks to promote SLFP activities and the development work carried out by the government.