Four school development officers, arrested during a mass protest outside the Ministry of Education in Isurupaya, Battaramulla, have been remanded until December 10th. The decision was made today (December 2nd) by Acting Magistrate Kamal Wijesiri of the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court.
The protest was organized by school development officers demanding that their positions be made permanent as teachers. The demonstration escalated into a tense standoff as protesters blocked the main road, disrupting traffic. Police intervened to disperse the crowd and restore vehicular movement, which led to a confrontation between the protesters and the authorities.
In the aftermath, four protesters were taken into custody by Thalangama Police. The suspects were charged with participating in an unlawful assembly and causing injuries to police officers. According to police submissions in court, the suspects behaved in a disorderly manner during the protest and caused injuries to three police officers, including a Sub-Inspector. The injured officers are currently receiving treatment at Colombo National Hospital and the Colombo East Base Hospital.
The suspects were presented before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court, where the police outlined the charges and detailed the injuries sustained by their officers. The Acting Magistrate, after reviewing the submissions, ordered the suspects to be remanded until December 10th and instructed that they be brought before an identification parade on that date.
The legal team representing the accused, including attorneys Nuwan Bopage and Nuwan Jayawardena, argued on their behalf during the court proceedings. However, the court determined that remanding the suspects was necessary based on the evidence presented and the nature of the charges.
The protest has drawn attention to the grievances of school development officers who have been advocating for permanent employment as teachers
The remanding of the four officers has sparked concerns among their supporters, who argue that the arrests are unjust and suppress the right to peaceful protest. The case is scheduled to continue on December 10
