Principal transferred for asking students to lick and clean littered rice

The principal of Matara Godauda Maha Vidyalaya, who is said to have told a group of students to use their tongues to clean the littered rice on the table after the children had finished their lunch, has been transferred from the school with immediate effect.

It was reported that this punishment was meted out to a group of students studying in grade 10 of that school and the incident had gone viral on social media.

An employee of the school had recorded the incident using his mobile phone and released it to the media.

The Southern Province Education Ministry has launched an investigation following the incident.

Provincial Education Secretary Ranjith Yapa said the principal in question has been temporarily transferred to the Matara Regional Education Office until the investigation is completed.

Further disciplinary action will be taken against her based on the outcome of investigation report, the secretary said.