• State Min. Geetha makes requests from Edu. & Health Mins. against principal, school. disciplinary comm. teachers & H’tota DGH JMO 
• Police arrest principal & 3 teachers (a male & 2 females) over not informing cops despite knowing 

State Minister of Women and Child Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe, has called on Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha and Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana to take strict disciplinary action, and facilitate legal action against all those involved, including the school principal and Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of Hambantota's District General Hospital (DGH), for allegedly covering up the gang rapes of a teenage girl by over 20 male students at a school in Thanamalwila.

A total of 17 schoolboys were recently arrested by the Police for allegedly gang raping a Grade 11 schoolgirl in a leading school in Thanamalwila over a period of one year. Police investigations have so far revealed that the school's disciplinary committee, including the principal, brought the victimised schoolgirl and the male students involved to inquire about the incident and then suppressed it to protect the school's reputation from being tarnished. The victim's mother also accused the JMO attached to the DGH in Hambantota of further troubling the former during a medical examination. 

The Police informed that the principal in question, a male teacher and two female teachers of the same school where the victim studied have been arrested over covering up the matter by not informing the Police despite being in possession of information concerning the rape. 

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (13), Kumarasinghe said that she had met Dr. Premajayantha yesterday, and requested that the principal in question and any teachers in the school's disciplinary committee be dealt with strict disciplinary action at the ministerial level. 

“Why did this principal hide this? He should have immediately informed the Police and the other authorities when he came to know about this incident. I met with the Education Minister and requested him to initiate disciplinary action against the principal and any teachers who have been in the disciplinary committee.” When queried regarding Dr. Premajayantha's response to her request, she said: “He said that he would quickly refer this matter to the relevant units and initiate action against the principal.”

Speaking further, she said that she had also verbally requested Dr. Pathirana to ensure that immediate and strict disciplinary action be taken against the JMO in question. “I have not made a request in writing. He is the Health Minister, so he should anyway take action whether I make a request or not.”

When queried as to whether there is any additional intervention that she can make in her capacity as the State Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Kumarasinghe said: "I can request the Police to initiate proper action against this incident. Apart from that, what I have to say is that we are all bound to ensure that our children are protected. We cannot let these suspects go away just because they are schoolboys. How disgusting is the way they have behaved? They have abused this 16-year-old girl, videotaped it, and blackmailed her. This is a very serious crime.”

Meanwhile, speaking to The Daily Morning, the Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU) President Priyantha Fernando said that the principal in question has behaved in a completely inappropriate manner with regard to this incident. “If the principal was informed of this, he should have immediately informed the Police. His failure to do so is a direct violation of his duties and responsibilities as a principal. The Education Ministry and the Uva Provincial educational authorities should swiftly investigate this incident and take action against the said principal.”

When contacted by The Daily Morning, a Deputy Director of Education at the Uva Provincial Education Department said that while she is not currently aware of any actions taken regarding this specific incident, appropriate actions will certainly be initiated at both the Departmental and Provincial levels, as is typically done.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Zonal Coordinator – Thanamalwila Zonal Education Office Jayalath Lasantha said: “Nothing is done about this incident at the Zonal Level, but, this matter has been referred to the Education Ministry.”

“We have looked into the abuse and the child's mother has also made a complaint. However, we can only take measures to prevent the abuse while the Education Ministry has to take steps against the teachers,” noted the Director General of the National Child Protection Authority, Anoma Siriwardena. 

Multiple attempts to contact Dr. Premajayantha, the Education Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara, the Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala, and the Acting Police Spokesperson, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ruwan Gunasekera proved futile.