Principal who forced students to eat Polythene wrappers, remanded

By Ranjith Rajapakse

The principal of Rambukpitiya Madya Maha Vidyalaya in Nawalapitiya, who forced five children to eat polythene wrappers, was produced before Nawalapitiya Magistrate Nilantha Wimalaweera and remanded until December 4.

The suspect, Janaka Jayawardene (47), is a resident of Bachchagama in Nawalapitiya.

He is alleged to have forced several year eleven students to eat the polythene wrappers and the papers after eating their meals wrapped in them. Five of the students who developed vomiting and stomach aches were admitted to Nawalapitiya General Hospital and discharged after in-house treatment.

The suspect fled the area when the police initiated investigations into the incident based on complaints received from the parents. 

His request for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Nawalapitiya Magistrate.

In the meantime, he had been transferred to the Gampola Zonal Education office pending investigations.

However, he was arrested and produced in court by Nawalapitiya police on Wednesday (29).