A controversial alleged video call incident involving a student and female teachers has ignited public debate, raised serious privacy concerns, and prompted urgent legal questions about consent, online abuse, and accountability in Sri Lanka.
An alleged incident involving a student from a popular boys’ school in Colombo and four female teachers has become a subject of intense discussion across social media platforms, triggering widespread concern over privacy, legality, and ethical boundaries.
According to information circulating online, the student is alleged to have engaged in sexual acts with four female teachers during video calls. Photographs of the individuals allegedly involved have been shared by certain social media groups, while others have gone further by circulating links to videos said to be connected to the incident. At the same time, many users have strongly condemned the invasion of privacy and the irreversible harm caused by online exposure.
What is known so far
Investigations into the incident indicate that the student at the center of the controversy was reportedly the head student leader of the school concerned. It has been claimed that the student made multiple video calls and engaged in sexual acts with four teachers attached to the same school. These video calls were reportedly screen recorded and later released online by a third party.
Efforts were made to independently verify these claims, but confirmation has not been possible so far. Police authorities have also stated that no formal complaint has been received at the police station responsible for the area in which the school is located.
Sources connected to the school have stated that the incident allegedly occurred some time ago. They further revealed that school authorities have since taken action to dissolve the entire student council, including the student leader linked to the incident, as an internal administrative response.
Complaint to cyber authorities
According to informed sources, the student involved has submitted a complaint to the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Unit about three weeks ago. In that complaint, the student is said to have stated that the videos had “leaked”.
Following this, the cyber authorities reportedly instructed him to file a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department. When contacted, officers from the Computer Crimes Investigation Division confirmed that a request had been made for removal of content. A senior officer stated, “A complaint is a request for removal. A request has been made.” When asked about the timing, the officer said it was received “not long ago”.
Minimum age of consent and the law
To clarify the legal position, Sinhala lawyer Isuru Mahesh Pandita was consulted regarding the applicable laws. He explained that the minimum age of consent for sexual activity in Sri Lanka is 16 years.
“According to the Penal Code and other laws, consent to sexual activity can be given after the age of 16. This applies to both girls and boys,” he said.
“Then, if you are over 16, whether you are a girl or a boy, you can have sex with your consent. Whether it is done on video or online, there is no legal obstacle to doing such a thing. It is not considered rape,” he explained.
However, the lawyer added that different legal consequences arise if coercion is involved. “But if the child is under 18 years of age, and if the child has been coerced in some way, then it can be said to be serious sexual abuse,” he stated.
Leaking sexual content and privacy violations
On the issue of leaked videos, lawyer Isuru Mahesh Pandita emphasized that Sri Lankan law does not permit the release of obscene images or videos into the public domain, even with consent.
“If a party releases such videos or photographs into the public domain, action can be taken against that party under civil law and criminal law,” he said.
He further warned individuals to exercise extreme caution before sharing intimate material, noting that if the aggrieved party is a child, the Child Protection Authority may intervene. Under civil law, such acts may constitute defamation, allowing victims to seek compensation for reputational damage.
Sharing and mocking content is also an offense
The lawyer stressed that sharing such videos or images is itself a punishable offense. “It is a very clear punishable offense. There is also the possibility of filing a case under the Computer Crimes Act. Because it was taken without the permission of the person concerned,” he said.
He also highlighted that making jokes, memes, or spreading rumors related to such incidents is illegal. “Even if the school, the children or the teachers concerned do not leak the video, but express various rumors or comments about it in a joking manner, it is also a legal offense,” he explained.
He added that the Online Security Act allows legal action to be taken against online posts and social media activity, including individual Facebook posts.
Disciplinary action and teacher accountability
The lawyer noted that the teachers involved have the right to pursue legal remedies, including restraining orders against those spreading the content. As government employees, teachers may also face disciplinary investigations initiated by the Ministry of Education.
“Teachers are government employees. The Ministry of Education can initiate a disciplinary investigation into this matter and take necessary action against them,” he said, adding that criminal liability would depend on the specific facts.
If the student himself was involved in releasing the videos, legal action could be taken against him. Disciplinary action by the school could also be considered on moral grounds, although the lawyer cautioned against unfair treatment if the student is over 18 years of age.
Can online videos be removed
Cyber authorities confirmed that personal videos or images released online can be removed upon request. Officials stated that content shared publicly can be taken down and that even content shared through private messaging platforms can sometimes be removed.
They also noted the availability of international services that assist victims in preventing the spread of private images online. Once content is removed, authorities can continue removing reuploads when identified, although they cannot preemptively block future postings without specific information.
