Uva CM steps down as Provincial Edu.min.

Forcing a Principal to kneel: President directs IGP to probe

President Maithripala Sirisena had directed IGP Pujith Jayasundera to hold an inquiry into an incident in which Uva Province Chief Minister was accused of forcing a lady Principal to kneel in front of him, officials said.

The President had instructed the IGP to take necessary legal action into the incident based on investigations.

Meanwhile, the police said the Badulla Police had commenced an investigation into the incident after the Principal had lodged a complaint.

Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake said that he would step down from the post of Provincial Education Minister until the investigation was complete. Meanwhile, the President also directed the Governor of the Uva Province to take over the duties of the Provincial Education Ministry. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) launched an investigation into the incident where the Chief Minister allegedly forced a school principal to kneel before him.

The female principal of a Tamil girls’ school in Badulla was allegedly summoned to the Chief Minister’s house where she was forced to kneel because she had refused to enrol a student recommended by the Chief Minister.

Minister Susil Premajayantha earlier said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would also launch an investigation into the incident.