The principal of a school in the Matale area was arrested today (31) in connection with an incident of allegedly sexually abusing a student, it was reported.

According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, a complaint was received yesterday (30) by the Mahawela Police alleging that the principal had sexually abused a 14‑year‑old male student studying at the same national school.

Several police teams were deployed to arrest the principal, but he had fled the area.

Later, residents had informed the Police that he was hiding in several places, after which police teams commenced conducting searches in the said locations. 

However, the wanted principal had surrendered to the Mahawela Police this morning (31), leading to his arrest. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Professional Principals’ Association has issued a statement today (14) clarifying facts regarding a principal of a primary school in the Eppawala area of Anuradhapura who was arrested with 1.185 kilos of heroin recently. 

The statement notes that although the arrested individual was identified as a “principal,” he is not a grade-holding principal in the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service.

According to the Professional Principals’ Association, it has now been confirmed that the individual is an officer of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service, and that he was serving in an acting capacity.

The statement further clarifies that the title “principal” should only refer to grade-holding officers of the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service.

The association adds that using the title “principal” for someone who is not a grade-holding officer is unfair to the Principals’ Service.

Moreover, the statement emphasizes that any future references to the individual should identify him as an “officer of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service.” 

The man is the husband of former National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Urban Councillor, Disna Neranjala, who is a relative of Kosgoda Suji, a known large-scale drug trafficker and criminal. (Newswire)

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The Principal of Bandaranayake College in Gampaha was escorted out of school by the Police following a protest today. 

A protest was staged in front of the school for nearly four hours by students, parents, and old boys, urging for a more suitable principal to be appointed to the school. 

Amidst the protest, a group of parents, old boys, and professors held a discussion with the incumbent principal, after which it was decided that he would step down.

The decision led to the protest being called off and the principal informing the media that he would report to the Education Ministry and accept any post offered to him. 

The principal was later escorted out of the school by the Police at around 01.00 pm. (Newswire)

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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says a standard policy and procedure is followed when appointing principals to all schools, responding to a question raised by the opposition regarding the Bandaranayake College in Gampaha. 

Addressing the Parliament yesterday, PM Amarasuriya said the past Government had turned the process of appointing principals for schools into a problematic matter. 

“Without a proper procedure, acting principals were appointed, leading to prolonged unfairness for both the teachers and the schools, leaving the school administration system in a problematic state. Currently, a proper procedure is followed in correcting the system according to existing regulations. Principals are being appointed to all national schools and vacancies through interviews conducted in line with the qualifications required for the position. We do not treat schools differently; every school is governed under the same policy and procedure,” she said. 

Providing a clarification, PM Amarasuriya said the principal appointment at Bandaranayake College in Gampaha was also carried out according to this standard procedure.

“Several issues had been identified based on written and verbal complaints made by various parties regarding the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Institute of Indigenous Medicine. Consequently, an expert committee has been appointed to examine the matter in a formal and analytical manner. Discussions were held with both the academic staff and students, and several key issues had been identified through the initial discussions,” she said. 

The Prime Minister revealed that, notably, the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Institute of Indigenous Medicine was upgraded to a university without even the most basic facilities. 

“New faculties and degree programs have been launched without adequate human resources or infrastructure. Further, beyond the core objectives of indigenous medicine, programs such as technology, social sciences, and management have been introduced without sufficient facilities,” she explained. 

PM Harini Amarasuriya said that a formal committee has been appointed to investigate these matters and prepare a report to recommend the necessary actions. (Newswire)

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A school principal from Polonnaruwa who had assaulted and caused injuries to the ear of a student sitting for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination this year has been placed under remand custody until 11 March 2025.

Hingurakgoda Acting Magistrate Nalaka Mihira Bandara issued the order, during which he also instructed the Medirigiriya Police to submit the Judicial Medical Officer’s report on the student.

The judge also ordered the Medirigiriya Police to submit a progress report on the investigations conducted into the incident. (Newswire)

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A school principal has been remanded until 31 January for having solicited a bribe of Rs. 18,520, the cost of 10 cement bags, in exchange for providing Grade One admission.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court remanded the principal of a school in Bandarawela who was arrested by the Bribery Commission and presented in court today.

After being informed by the Bribery Commission that investigations were underway into the incident, the court remanded the principal. 

It is reported that the school principal had instructed the complainant to pay the requested money at a store in front of the school to receive admission to the school. 

After being informed by the complainant that the money had been paid, the Bribery Commission arrested the principal. (Newswire)

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The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has announced that the trade union action launched by teachers and principals will continue tomorrow as well. 

CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin told the media that all teachers and principals will report sick and will refrain from reporting to duty on Thursday (June 27).

Joseph Stalin further said the decision had been taken to protest the firing of tear gas and water cannons by the Police to disperse the protest that had been staged by CTU trade union members in Colombo today. 

School teachers and principals had reported sick and refrained from duty today, over several demands, including salary anomalies, resulting in over 10,000 schools being forced to close. 

Simultaneously, members of the CTU trade unions staged a protest march from Fort Railway Station to Lotus Road in Colombo after which the Police resorted to firing tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. (Newswire)

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The Principal of a school in Monaragala has been arrested on allegations of sexually abusing a woman, it was reported.

The suspect was arrested by the Dhombagahawela Police on Sunday (Mar 03). 

It is reported that the Principal had attempted to sexually abuse the woman who was working in the school canteen.

The arrested school principal is expected to be produced before the Monaragala Magistrate’s Court today. 

The Dhombagahawela Police is conducting investigations into the incident. (NewsWire)

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The principal of a school in Nawalapitiya, who was found to have forced school students to eat the polythene and paper used to wrap their lunch, has been transferred, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha informed the Parliament today. 

It was reported yesterday, that the principal of the Rambukpitiya Central College had forced a group of students to consume the polythene and paper as the school was being maintained as a polythene-free zone.

Delivering a special statement in Parliament, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha announced that the principal has been transferred to the Gampola Zone with immediate effect.

Stating that the decision was taken after inquiring in this regard from the Central Province’s Education Director, yesterday itself, he said an on-site investigation has been conducted by the Pasbage Divisional Director of Education and that the principal in question has been transferred for the convenience of the inquiry.

“From among the group of Grade 11 students who were forced to eat the polythene and paper, two had been admitted to the Nawalapitiya Hospital after falling ill soon after the incident. The other five students who faced the incident have, however, reported to school today (23),” the minister said. 

The Education Minister further revealed that a complaint had also been filed at the Nawalapitiya Police in this regard yesterday. (NewsWire)

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The principal of a private school in Minuwangoda has been arrested for forcibly embracing a female teacher under the guise of extending New Year wishes.

According to Hiru News, the principal is a 61-year-old resident of Kadawatha and a father of two.

The man was arrested following a complaint filed by the 23-year-old female who is an English teacher at the school.

The Police stated that in her complaint the teacher said that she had completed her tasks for the day and was ready to leave the school when the suspect had forcibly embraced her extending his wishes for the New Year. (NewsWire)

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