Principal forced to withdraw suspension on Minister’s son after robbery in school

The   Principal of Royal College Upali Gunasekera was last week forced under threat and pressure to revoke an order instituting disciplinary action against the son of Minister Keheliya Rambukwella for committing robbery and mischief in the school premises.

The Sunday Leader learns  five students of Royal College were subjected to disciplinary action by the Principal after they were found guilty of forcibly breaking into the room of Senior Games Master Sudath Liyanagunawardena and stealing some files.

It is learned four of the students had confessed to the crime while Minister Rambukwella’s son Ramith had refused to do so.

However, according to evidence recorded by the school, the other students involved in the incident had implicated Minister Rambukwella’s son as the chief instigator.

Informed sources said, Royal College had also informed the Cinnamon Gardens Police of the break in and that the Police had visited the scene of the crime and taken fingerprints.

Following an inquiry conducted by the school into the crime, it is learned the four boys who confessed to the crime were given a one month suspension from all co-curricular activities including sports, while Minister Rambukwella’s son was given a three month suspension due to his failure to confess.

The Sunday Leader learns, following the suspension order, Minister Rambukwella had visited the school with his security and demanded of the Principal to withdraw the suspension on his son or face court action.

 It is also learned the Principal and the Deputy Principal were informed they would be transferred to Vavuniya if the suspension order was not withdrawn.

Informed sources said the urgency of getting the suspension order withdrawn was for the Minister’s son to be eligible to play in a cricket match today.

These sources said the Principal, Deputy Principal and two school teachers also started receiving threatening calls following this incident but were not able to confirm the source of these threats.

 It is learned that given the emotional and physical pressure the Principal and school came under over the incident, especially the threat of transfer, Principal Gunasekera decided to revoke the suspension order unconditionally Friday evening.

Contacted by The Sunday Leader, Principal Gunasekera declined to comment on the incident.

The Sunday Leader learns however that Attorney General C.R. De Silva who is an old boy of Royal College was informed Friday evening of the circumstances which led to the Principal unconditionally withdrawing the suspension order.

An old boy of the school told The Sunday Leader the Old Boys Union will take up this issue for discussion at the next meeting and take the necessary follow up action.