- Defends press release issued in case of suspected abusive school principal
The Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), Udayakumara Amarasinghe called out to the Education Ministry to task over what he claimed was the lack of proper action against a principal of a leading boys school in Ratnapura who was arrested last year (2022) on allegations of sexually abusing students, inadequate action which he claimed would lead to the discouragement of agencies working on child protection.
Meanwhile, a notice was previously issued on Amarasinghe by the Ratnapura Magistrate’s Court to appear before the Court yesterday (27) to inquire about a press release issued by the NCPA regarding a complaint which had been made against a principal of a leading boys’ school in Ratnapura. When contacted by The Daily Morning, he stated that the Court had issued a notice on him after considering a request made by the lawyers of the defendant saying that the particular school and its principal were brought into disrepute through the relevant press release issued by the NCPA.
“Having investigated the complaint received against the principal of that school, the NCPA presented facts to the Court where he was remanded in custody. Later, in my capacity as the Chairman, I issued a press release in this regard in accordance with the provisions in the National Child Protection Act. The names of the principal and the school were not mentioned. Usually, in such incidents, we intervene as the officials of a public institution. But, the lawyers of the defendant had requested the Court to summon me personally to Court without mentioning my official designation,” he said.
He further mentioned that he took action to obtain the advice of the Attorney General (AG) in his capacity as the head of a public institution in this regard and that the AG had given a reference number for this case through an Additional Solicitor General. “I was ordered to appear before the Court today (27). The legal team of the NCPA appeared before the Court on behalf of me.They mentioned that I have worked in order to make the public aware of child protection under the provisions of Section 14 of the said Act,” he said yesterday.
He also mentioned that the Ministry of Education has not taken proper action regarding the said principal and that he (the principal in question) has only been assigned to the Zonal Education Office from that school. He further mentioned that such actions would discourage the agencies working on child protection.
The NCPA received a complaint against the said principal last year and arrested him on charges of sexually abusing students.
Source By themorning.lk
