TNA Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam Calls for an Impartial Inquiry Into Incident Where a Teacher at Sri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College in Trincomalee was allegedly threatened and assaulted over wearing an abaya to School

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Azzaam Ameen

Following an incident where Fathima Famitha Rameez, who attempted to resume her duties as a teacher at the Sri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College, Trincomalee, on Wednesday (2), was allegedly threatened and assaulted over wearing an abaya to school, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has called for an inquiry into the incident.

“An impartial inquiry should be made into the incident. As the TNA, we believe in everybody’s freedom and believe that when such conflicts arise, they should be solved through dialogue,” he told The Morning.

Rameez, along with three other teachers, initially filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) on 21 May 2018, stating that they had been prohibited from wearing the abaya by the school’s management committee which is headed by the school’s principal.

On 2 February 2019, the HRCSL, following an investigation into the complaint, recommended that the complainants be allowed to wear the dress of their choice (in this case, the abaya) to resume their duties and to continue their work without hindrance or harassment.

However, allegations are levelled at the school for not implementing this HRCSL recommendation. Although three of the initial complainants have now accepted transfers elsewhere, Rameez decided to file a writ application at the Court of Appeal in 2021, requesting the school to implement the HRCSL recommendation.

On Wednesday, when Rameez had reported to the school principal’s office, parties who were not part of the school had entered the premises, with one person threatening her while another had attempted to allegedly strangle her, following which Rameez had called the 911 police hotline. When the Police had arrived, the school principal had accused Rameez of pushing her (the school principal) and injuring her leg, following which she (the school principal) was admitted to the hospital. Rameez had also been admitted to the hospital for a check-up following the alleged attempted strangulation.

Statements have been recorded from both parties by the Police. The Court of Appeal is due to hear the case pertaining to the writ application on 7 February.

Courtesy:The Morning