The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, this is a very sensitive matter. We must speak and intervene with care and not politicize it. A 13-year-old ending her life is a collective failure of society, and we all bear responsibility. We fully agree such incidents must never recur.

¶ 02 Initial reporting appears to have been inadequate. The principal has been called for an explanation regarding failure to report to the Ministry and to identify the teacher concerned. That process has begun, but these are actions after the tragedy. This morning, I discussed with Hon. Saroja Sachi P^olraj, Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs. We are engaging the Ministries of Women and Children’s Affairs and Education, the NCPA, and the Police to propose a mechanism.

¶ 03 We need an immediate notification system so these four institutions are alerted at once and can deliver a coordinated response: Education actions; Police investigation responsibilities and monitoring; NCPA oversight; and psychosocial support via Women and Children’s Affairs. A holistic, coordinated intervention is needed. We have begun discussions to establish such a mechanism. We convey our deepest sympathies to the parents and family. As a Government, we will work to prevent recurrence and ensure the best interests of children through a coordinated response. Once the mechanism is established, I will inform Parliament. Thank you.