Edu. Ministry to probe incident

The Education Ministry is conducting a formal investigation into abusing of an ordinary level (O/L) female candidate by an examination invigilator on May 25.

While issuing a media release, they said Minister Susil Premajayantha drew the attention of the Examinations Commissioner General to conduct an immediate investigation into the incident and to submit a comprehensive report.

They said several social media reports claimed that an O/L female candidate was sexually harassed by an examiner at the Hindogama School Examination Centre on the pretext of offering  to help answer a question in the exam paper.

Accordingly, the Minister advised the examination commissioner general to investigate the incident based on the following steps: The statement from the victim female student, the statement from the invigilator and the assistant, a statement from the accused invigilator, and statements from the other candidates who were present at the examination hall at that time in the Hindogama examination centre.

The incident will be investigated at the departmental level and disciplinary action will be taken against the perpetrator, the minister said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)