He has sought approval of the Public Services Commission for the posting of 258 to the education administration service and 800 as principals and teacher educationists.

However, it is only on the basis of merit or following a competitive examination that recruitments are made for all these positions.

According to secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union Joseph Stalin, an attempt was made previously too, to grant postings in the education ministry to alleged 4,200 political victims.

The CTU challenged it before courts and got the appointments suspended.