A 16-year-old girl from a well-known school in Wennappuwa has passed away following a serious head injury, allegedly caused by two teachers. She had been in the hospital for over three months before she died on November 13 while receiving treatment at the Ragama Teaching Hospital.
The post-mortem examination confirmed that the student died from brain bleeding caused by the assault.
The incident occurred on August 9 when the teachers punished the student and another classmate for taking over 20 minutes to return to the classroom. The teachers reportedly hit her and made her kneel after accusing her of giving conflicting answers about the delay.
The student was first admitted to the Marawila Hospital, where she underwent surgery for her injuries. Later, she was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital for further care and then to the Ragama Hospital for physiotherapy. Despite these efforts, she could not recover and passed away.
The two teachers involved, aged 39 and 57, were initially arrested and remanded. They were later released on bail in September but were re-arrested on November 14 following the student’s death. They are now in custody until November 18 as the investigation continues.
Attempts by police to record a statement from the student were unsuccessful due to her critical condition. Her body was handed over to her family on November 15.
This tragedy has caused shock and sadness in the community, raising questions about the use of physical punishment in schools.
