Uva Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake reported to have summoned a female principal of a school to his residence and forced her to kneel down before him regarding a school admission incident. Under duress originally she made a statement that no such incident took place.
When the UNP PM Vadivel Suresh met her recently, she related what really happened. News went like wild fire in the media. The principal was taken to the Badulla General Hospital yesterday where she was declared as being mentally sound. Thereafter she was asked to accompany the Police to the Chief Minister’s home, a move which met with opposition by JVP Uva Provincial Councillor Samantha Vidyarathna and UNP MP Vadivel Suresh who were present. They objected to the principal being taken to CM’s residence by police to the place where the incident was said to have taken place.
Wide spread condemnation were made by politicians, trade unionists, social service organizations and Civil Organizations.
Followed by the development, President Maithripala Sirisena has directed IGP Pujith Jayasundera to conduct an immediate investigation into complaints of alleged harassment caused by Uva Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake to a female school principal in Badulla recently. The President has also asked the Uva Governor to take over the functions of the Uva Province Education Ministry temporarily, to ensure a just and fair investigation into these allegations. The President has directed the IGP to take any suitable legal action recommended in the investigation report.
In the meantime, Uva Province Chief Minister Dassanayake said, he decided to step down as Provincial Minister of Education until investigations on the allegations against him are completed. Addressing the media at his office the chief minister said the letter of resignation has been forwarded to the Governor of the Uva Province..
The Ceylon Teachers’ Union recently threatened to go on strike if appropriate action is not taken against the Chief Minister.
The Human Rights Commission too said it has begun an investigation into the incident, following a complaint.
News just received by us states that a demonstration is now underway in front of the Badulla Tamil Girls’ school demanding the arrest of Uva Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake.
The parents of the students are staging the demonstration wearing black armbands.
