Stealing coconuts to pay for school painting: President orders probe

Disna MUDALIGE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered an urgent and special inquiry into the incident where a 13 – year - old student in Horana robbed coconuts to pay Rs 800 to school authorities to paint the school, Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the ministry auditorium yesterday, the minister said this incident was extensively discussed during the Cabinet meeting yesterday morning, adding that the President spoke emotionally about the incident, while noting the abhorrent facts related to it.

He said the President instructed Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena and Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into this incident.

The minister said the President paid attention to the fact that it was illegal to collect money from students in this manner.

He said Minister Hakeem pointed out even a circular has been issued stating the President wanted measures taken to prevent a repetition of such situations in the future.

The Cabinet also paid attention to the fact that neither the education minister nor the secretary has the power to dismiss a school Principal or other persons involved for illegal orders of this nature since only the Public Service Commission has the relevant powers. The Cabinet was also of the view that this incident should have been directed to the Mediation Board instead of the court.