Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma Tries to Commit Suicide by Hanging Himself on a Class room Ceiling Fan at Matugama Primary School

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by Norman Palihawadane

Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma was admitted to Meegahatenna Hospital after an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide yesterday.

The Deputy Minister who had been protesting opposite the Matugama Zonal Educational Office as ten students had been denied admission to Grade 1 of the Matugama Meegahatenne Primary School suspended the agitation and went to the school and tried to hang himself from a ceiling fan in a Grade One class.

The Principal of the school who witnessed the suicide attempt of the Deputy Minister fainted and was rushed to hospital.  Both of them were later transferred to the Nagoda Hospital in two ambulances.

Nine of ten students seeking admission to the school, too, had arrived at the scene and teaches took action to admit them.

Acting Director of Police Media SSP Priyantha Jayakody said that the Police would take action against Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma for attempted suicide, which was unlawful. He would also be charged with trespass, the Police Spokesman said.

He said the police were currently investigating the incident and a final decision would be taken shortly.

Deputy Minister’s driver Chinthaka Perera said that Thewarapperuma had entered the Grade One class of the Meegahatenna primary school and stopped the fan by hand and then using his shirt and the belt tried to hang himself. “When we tried to stop him he beat and threatened us not to stop him. His bodyguards rushed to the scene and got the minister down and we rushed him to the Meegahatenna Hospital.”

Thevarapperuma commenced a satyagraha opposite the Matugama Zonal Educational Office on June 29 demanding that the ten children who had been denied admission be admitted to the school. The protesters burnt tyres and blocked the traffic and shut the entrance gate of the Educational office. Matugama Magistrate Kosala Senadheera, upon receiving a report from the police that the protest was disturbing the civil life, issued an order that the Deputy Minister conduct the protest peacefully.

Courtesy:The Island