Janaka Jayawardena, the principal of Nawalapitiya Rambukpitiya Maha Vidyalaya, was arrested by the Nawalapitiya Police on the suspicion of ordering seven school children to eat polythene.
Five of the Grade 11 students who ingested the polythene-packed food were subsequently admitted to Nawalapitiya District General Hospital. They experienced symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal pain and received medical treatment before being discharged from the hospital.
Following complaints from parents of the affected students, the Nawalapitiya police took action, leading to the arrest of the principal. The Ministry of Education responded by reassigning the suspected principal to the Gampola Zone Education Office.
The suspected principal, who had initially fled the area, sought emergency bail, but the magistrate refused the request.
The arrest occurred at the Nawalapitiya Magistrate’s Court while the suspect was present, and the magistrate ordered the remand of Janaka Jayawardena in connection with the alleged polythene feeding incident.
