- Meets Police team and parents
- Internal review at Ministry of Education
- Committee appointed to review case
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya convened a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday, bringing together the Police team investigating the Kotahena child’s death and the child’s parents.
Dr. Amarasuriya issued clear directives at the meeting to the Police to ensure that investigations into the alleged incidents — both at the school and the tuition class – are conducted with impartiality, accuracy, and urgency.
The Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Education, said that the Ministry of Education is carrying out an internal review to assess whether due process was followed promptly and effectively when the incident was first reported last year.
Highlighting systemic shortcomings, the Prime Minister highlighted the inadequate coordination among State institutions responsible for intervening in child abuse cases and the insufficient support extended to the victims. In response, a high-powered three-member committee has been appointed under the leadership of Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Aswini Fernando.
The committee has been tasked with monitoring the existing response mechanisms and taking the necessary steps to regularise and strengthen them. The Premier has also instructed the Education Department to call for an explanation from the principal of the girls’ school.
Joining the Prime Minister at this meeting were Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj, and Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijeyapala.
In a separate news release issued yesterday, the Education Ministry outlined the steps it had taken to address the issue surrounding the girl’s death.
It said that the Department was in receipt of the Police B Report on the incident, based on which the teacher in question has been immediately sent on compulsory leave. The release added that preliminary investigations were under way and further action regarding the culprits will be taken based on the outcome of that probe.
“An internal investigation is also under way at the Department to ascertain whether any sections or personnel of the Department have shirked their responsibilities with regard to this incident,” the release stated.
Speaking in Parliament earlier, Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya called upon the Opposition not to use this incident to gain undue political advantage. She urged them not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death which will complicate the situation further.
In the wake of this incident, the Government has mooted a mechanism to prevent the molestation of children of both sexes at school and outside and to deal even more sternly with the perpetrators. This will be a coordinated effort of the Education Ministry, Child and Women’s Affairs Ministry, the Police and the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA). School authorities and parents will be encouraged to report any concerning incidents to the NCPA and the Police.
Minister Paulraj yesterday cautioned against “Serving justice through social media” in cases of this nature and told Opposition politicians and social media activists to refrain from inciting society without knowing the true facts.
