Three lady teachers of a leading girls’ school in Matara are alleged to have cut off the hair of several pupils who had layered their hair. Child Protection Authority had instructed Matara police to inquire into the incident and to submit a report within 48 hours. The teachers concerned were alleged to have cropped the hair of more than 100 girls including the head prefect and several other prefects. The teachers had ordered the girls to stand on an outdoor stage and cut their hair with the help of two beauticians hired for the purpose. Meanwhile, several parents including the former Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture of the Ruhunu University Prof.
Thakshila Serasinghe, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Jayaratne, and Rubber Extension Officer Anura Wanigasuriya met the Principal of the school.
Attorney-at-Law Sunil Jayaratne said it was an arbitrary act that violated the fundamental rights of the children and that the teachers concerned could have done it on disciplinary grounds, with the consent of the parents. However, the Principal was not available to comment on the issue. Meanwhile, Matara Zonal Director of Education W.R. Weerakoon said that the Principal had informed him that she would prevent the recurrence of a similar incident. He said the teachers had taken that step to maintain discipline in the school, but it was not permissible. OIC Women and Children’s Bureau of the Matara police Waruni Bogahawattta and PC Sunil Ratnaweera are conducting inquiries on the instructions of SP Damayantha Wijeya Sri and SSP Ranjith Padmasiri.
