Kandy MC, Kandy School Principals to meet over school vans’ parking
View(s):The Kandy Municipal Council (KMC) is to summon Principals of Kandy Schools, with the concurrence of the Provincial Education Department, to discuss the parking of school vans in front of schools, after dropping off students, which has become a menace, according to the KMC Traffic Committee.
The KMC Traffic Committee met on Friday, with Deputy Mayor Illahi Abdeen presiding, regarding the parking of vehicles on the sides of main roads in Kandy, with Opposition Leader Sena Dissanayake proposing that the KMC discuss this issue with the School Principals. It was also suggested that these school vans be parked inside the school premises.
Deputy Mayor Abdeen noted that Traffic congestion is not by Kandy Ratepayers’ vehicles, but vehicles coming into Kandy, especially school vans. When the Sunday Times contacted a few Kandy School Principals whose premises have space for parking of vehicles, they said their own Staff have vehicles which is parked within the school premises, while parking of school vans is not their concern.
One Principal said, “It is the duty of the Police to move the vehicles after discharging the students, and it is the duty of the KMC to find parking lots or, have the vehicles moved out of Kandy Municipal limits, after they have dropped off their charges. After all, school vans charge students and it is their responsibility to find siutable parking space.”
Ratepayers ask how so many children come from outside Kandy, when the rule is “Closest school is the best school.”
- L.B. Senaratne