07 students from Grade 11 were reportedly subjected to punishment involving the consumption of polythene and newspaper by the school’s principal at a school Nawalapitiya Rambukpitiya Central College. Two of the affected students fell ill and were subsequently hospitalized, prompting an investigation by the Nawalapitiya police.
According to reports, the students had brought their lunch wrapped in polythene and newspaper pages. The principal, upon discovering this, allegedly ordered the seven students to eat the polythene and newspaper sheets at that moment. Compliance with this order resulted in two students experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and a sore throat.
One of the affected children was admitted to Nawalapitiya District General Hospital on the afternoon of the incident, while another student sought medical attention the following morning. The incident came to light after a complaint was lodged with the Nawalapitiya police by the father of one of the hospitalized students.
Efforts to reach the school’s principal, Janaka Jayawardena, for comments on the allegations have been unsuccessful. The Nawalapitiya police are actively investigating the incident.
