Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Secretary Joseph Stalin condemned Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj over comments made in Parliament regarding the death of a schoolgirl in Kotahena, calling the minister’s remarks “conceited.”
The Minister in Parliament said that the parents of the Grade 10 student, who died by suicide following alleged sexual abuse by a teacher, had not yet met her or submitted a petition. She also noted that a formal complaint has not been filed with the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), despite her request.
“The girl has died. What is this minister’s conceitedness? She is egoistical to say that the parents didn’t come to meet her. What is this joke? Nobody should go to anyone. When it is a case concerning a child, one complaint is enough. In this case the complaint was made by the Judicial Medical Officer and no-one else. The person who should have complained regarding this was the principal, whereas the principal chose to hide the issue,” Stalin said.
Responding to questions about possible political interference, Stalin said the union had received assurances that the investigation would proceed without political influence, despite the accused teachers’ alleged links to the governing National People’s Power party. (Newswire)