A tragic incident has claimed the life of 16-year-old Ramesha Dinithi, a Grade 10 student from a reputed school in Wennappuwa, after being hospitalized for over three months due to a brutal assault by two female teachers. She passed away on the night of November 13 while receiving treatment at the Ragama Teaching Hospital.
The post-mortem examination confirmed that her death resulted from brain hemorrhaging caused by the assault. The incident, which occurred on August 9, involved the student being attacked and kneed by her class teacher and another female teacher following an argument. The teachers alleged that the student, along with another classmate, had left the classroom and returned after a prolonged absence of over 20 minutes.
Initially admitted to the Marawila Hospital, Ramesha underwent head surgery and was later transferred to the Colombo National Hospital for further care. Efforts by police officers to obtain her statement were unsuccessful as she remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit. She was subsequently moved to Ragama Hospital for physiotherapy, where her condition deteriorated.
The two teachers involved, aged 39 and 57, were arrested by Wennappuwa Police shortly after the incident. They were initially remanded and later released on bail on September 13. However, following the student’s death, the teachers were re-arrested on November 14, presented in court, and remanded until November 18.
The assault, reported by Ada Derana, has sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning the safety of students in educational institutions. The deceased student’s body has been handed over to her family.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the need for vigilance and accountability within schools to ensure the protection of students from harm.
