A 15-year-old girl tragically took her own life by jumping from a high-rise building, reportedly due to the psychological trauma caused by a public disclosure of her past sexual abuse. According to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, although the girl had previously changed schools following the incident of sexual abuse, she ultimately died by suicide after a tutoring teacher publicly discussed the abuse she had experienced during a class session.
The original incident of abuse occurred on October 23, 2024. However, the school teacher accused of the abuse was only transferred on May 8, 2025—more than six months later. Premadasa raised concerns in Parliament today, stating that the delay in administrative action and the lack of awareness among law enforcement and the Child Protection Authority underscored the need for a comprehensive new system to protect children from abuse and provide support to victims.
The Opposition Leader emphasized that although the abusive schoolteacher had been initially remanded, he has since been released on bail. Premadasa criticized the government’s delayed response in transferring the teacher and highlighted the alarming frequency of similar cases. He called for the establishment of a robust mechanism to address and prevent such incidents effectively.
Furthermore, during the parliamentary discussion, MP Mano Ganesan raised the issue, prompting a response from the Minister in charge of Children and Women’s Affairs. The Minister stated that no formal complaints had been received in this case. In response, Premadasa urged the government to develop a system that enables authorities to act proactively—even in the absence of formal complaints.
Finally, the Opposition Leader strongly condemned the tutoring teacher who publicly disclosed the girl’s experience of abuse in a classroom setting, stating that legal action should also be taken against individuals who cause such psychological harm through irresponsible behavior.
