Stealing coconuts for school colour washing:

‘Girl was under no pressure to bring money’

Priyadarshani KAHAWALA - Ingiriya Central Group Cor

The four member committee appointed to probe the incident where a 13 - year - old girl stole coconuts to raise Rs 800 for a school colour washing fund, decided to exempt her from any contributions towards the project.

The recommendation was contained in the report of the four member committee appointed by Western Province Education Director P M Illapperuma.

The report was handed over to Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. Chief Minister Ranatunga pointed that the school Principal had collected money in keeping with the circular. He said the student was under no pressure to bring the money.

The report also recommended that the girl should henceforth be exempted from making any monetary contribution towards any school project considering her family’s dire economic circumstances. The report also shows that the girl had gone to school for only three days in January.

Justice Ministry sources said the Police erred in arresting the girl.

Police said they were only acting in terms of the law. Police Media Spokesman SSP Prashantha Jayakody said the child committed a theft. He said if the complainant insisted on perusing the case, the Police had no alternative but to produce the suspect before court. National Child Protect Authority chairman Anoma Dissanayake said the law should be changed to ensure minors are not penalised in this fashion.

A Justice Ministry spokesman said the matter should have been settled at the Mediation Board.

He said according to the law, if the suspect is below 18 and the value of the goods stolen is below Rs 5,000, the matter should be taken at the Mediation Board. “Therefore the Police had erred in this instance.”

According to the student she robbed the coconuts to find Rs 800 to paint her school wall.