Principal released on bail over alleged assault on student

The Matugama Magistrate's Court ordered the release of the Thalahitiya School principal on two personal bails of Rs. 500,000 each following allegations of assaulting a 12-year-old student with special needs.

The Thebuwana Police arrested the 55-year-old resident of Dombagoda, Horana, and produced him before the court.

The incident allegedly occurred on the 20th, coinciding with the start of the school term, after which the student was admitted to the Kalutara Nagoda Teaching Hospital on the 21st.

Police stated that Judicial Medical Officer Hemantha Harischandra Silva examined the child and reported damage to the right eardrum.

Represented by a lawyer, the principal surrendered to the police and claimed he only warned the student after seeing him throw a piece of cake at a teacher, denying any physical assault.

Following his production before the Kalutara Magistrate's Court yesterday (28), he was granted bail while Inspector Gamage and officers of the Thebuwana Police Crime Division conduct further investigations.