The disciplinary action against a school principal who was found guilty of abusing a minor student has been suspended, allegedly due to political interference. The officer appointed to conduct the preliminary investigation for the upcoming departmental inquiry has been removed, halting the proceedings, according to the President of the Lanka Teachers’ Union, Mr. Priyantha Fernando.
The principal in question admitted his guilt in court in 2024 while serving at a school in the Thambuttegama Educational Zone. Consequently, the court sentenced him to five years in prison and imposed a fine of fifty thousand rupees, Mr. Fernando stated.
He further emphasized that it is the responsibility of the department to suspend a person who has been convicted and fined for committing such an offense. As per standard procedure, an investigation officer was appointed last year to conduct preliminary inquiries for disciplinary action under the instructions of the North Central Provincial Chief Secretary.
However, in the current administration, this appointed officer has been removed from the preliminary investigation duty, effectively suspending the inquiry. Since the convicted principal is known to be a strong political activist, it is suspected that political influence is at play behind this decision, Mr. Fernando asserted.
