Nine mothers arrested over Thewarapperuma’s protest

Police today arrested the mothers of 9 students who were allegedly forcibly enrolled into the Grade One class of the Meegahatenna primary school.

The arrested mothers were among the parents who recently staged a protest along with Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma demanding that 10 students be given admission to the school.

However, the agitation and subsequent protest fast culminated with the deputy minister attempting suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan within the school premises. Both the deputy minister and the Principal of the school were hospitalised shortly afterwards. 

A group of parents staged a protest against the deputy minister the following day accusing him of exerting undue pressure on the school’s principal and forcibly enrolling the students. 

The mothers in question were taken into custody by police when they accompanied their children to school this morning. 

Speaking to Ada Derana, a spokesman for Meegahatenna Police said that they were arrested on charges of unlawful assembly. 

When inquired as to why the deputy minister has not been arrested over the incident, he said that the deputy minister is still receiving treatment at a hospital and that steps will be taken to arrest and investigate all remaining suspect responsible for the incident. 

The nine arrested mothers are to be produced at court this evening. 

UPDATE: The arrested suspects were remanded till July 07 after being produced at the Mathugama Magistrate Court.