Mother says principal harassed her daughter

(February 26, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Mrs. Rupa de Silva the mother of the slain journalist Sampath Lakmal Silva yesterday alleged that the principal of the Girl’s School who was arrested for taking a bribe recently harassed her daughter by not giving her the school leaving certificate.

Ms. Silva told the Media that the principal initially misplaced the certificate and the other documents. When her daughter had requested for them she had allegedly chased her away scolding her in harsh language.

The girl therefore had apparently logged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission but according to Ms. Silva no inquiry had been made by the commission.

She said this incident took place a week before Sampath’s Assassination in 2006.

Ms. Silva welcomed the move by the Bribery Commission to arrest the principal. She called for an inquiry and to subject her to a suitable punishment. “People who are engaged in unlawful and unacceptable things should be severely dealt with,” she said. The principal was arrested by the Bribery Commission last week for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 15,000 to admit a child to the school.