Widespread public outrage has erupted following the controversial transfer of a mathematics teacher accused of misconduct, which allegedly led to the tragic suicide of a Grade 10 student from a well-known Tamil girls’ school in Colombo.
The Ministry of Education, facing intense pressure after a large protest in Colombo yesterday (May 8), transferred the teacher to Puttalam Sahira College — a prominent Muslim-only school. However, the decision sparked further unrest, with parents, students, and community leaders in Puttalam staging a protest in front of the school today, rejecting the move.
The unrest follows the shocking suicide of a 10th-grade student, who reportedly jumped from the 7th floor of an apartment building in Kotahena, Colombo. Allegations have surfaced that the student was sexually abused by the mathematics teacher at her previous school. Although a complaint was lodged with the school administration, students allege that the institution dismissed the claims, labeling the student as mentally unstable and shielding the accused teacher.
The student, overwhelmed by stress and humiliation, was later transferred to another prominent girls’ school by her parents. However, tensions escalated when a part-time teacher at a private educational institution — reportedly a close associate of the accused — publicly shared misleading information about the victim’s complaint and character.
According to reports, the student was devastated by the ongoing harassment and took her own life as a result.
The teacher was initially arrested following a police complaint by the girl’s parents but was later released. Outraged parents are now demanding that the police re-arrest the teacher and investigate all individuals involved in covering up the incident. They are also calling for the Ministry of Education to be held accountable for the failure to protect the student.
“The system failed our daughter,” said a grieving parent at the protest. “We want justice — not just for our child, but to ensure this doesn’t happen to any other student.”
Yesterday’s protest in Colombo saw participation from students, teachers, social workers, religious leaders, and politicians, all demanding swift action and structural changes to protect students from abuse.
As the situation continues to unfold, the Ministry of Education has yet to issue a new statement addressing the protests in Puttalam or outlining further actions regarding the accused teacher.
