Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development & Cultural Affairs Palitha Thewarapperuma was remanded on Tuesday evening by the Matugama Magistrate till July 7.
He was arrested on charges of unlawful assembly for staging a protest at the Meegahatenna primary school demanding several students be granted admission. The protests also took a twist after the deputy minister attempted to commit suicide. He was rushed to the hospital.
Nine mothers of the children who also staged the protest opposite the school demanding for admission of their children were arrested earlier on Tuesday on unlawful assembly. Subsequently, Thewarapperuma surrendered himself to the Meegahatenna police, and was arrested, along with three others.
villageman / July 6, 2016
Arresting mothers for demanding admission for their children to Grade One?
Arrest the education minister and the principal of the school instead for denying education for those children for whatever reason. School admission should be a State responsibility.
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Amarasiri / July 6, 2016
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development & Cultural Affairs Palitha Thewarapperuma
“He was arrested on charges of unlawful assembly for staging a protest at the Meegahatenna primary school demanding several students be granted admission. The protests also took a twist after the deputy minister attempted to commit suicide. He was rushed to the hospital.”
“Arrest the education minister and the principal of the school instead for denying education for those children for whatever reason. School admission should be a State responsibility.”
Mr. Palitha Thewarapperuma, feels for the Children. They need an education.
Palitha Thewarapperuma, bravo. Only you seem to have guts, to stand for for the peoples rights.
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Simon De Silva / July 6, 2016
I have seen this guy work for the poor. I also have seen this man threatening the professionals to the very same manner former rabid dog nature – Mervin of the president MR regime did it. We almost everyone critisied the bugger and his amok runs, but today, we never expect that to be repeated. Meaning, whoever he is – if he cant behave civiized should better resign from politics. This man Thewarapperuma has taken the law to his hand, not sending a message across the nation. Chandiya nature could make MR et al feel okay, but the civilized culture will never accept.
That Widuhalpuathi of the school was undergoing all the threatening verbal attacks poured on him while sitting in front him, Thewa… behaved like a rabid dog. …. What is the message he sent across the country….. are we going backward or forward ?
Him to be punished the way any other IRCs have been… is imperative. God save srilanka. S
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Sinchuappu / July 6, 2016
Regardless of the family background any ballige puthas join as politicians of the day – that seem to kill everything… sending the message across only thugs could get things done. :::: Is that the message the guy wanted to send across ? He has betrayed all the goodies of the UNP…. here he must be punished … no exception.
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Samuel Jayaweera / July 7, 2016
Is Palitha THE a father to own kids ?
How can he become a thugs being a politician this way ?
May be it is for an unfair issue, but why he himself took it to his hand.. what went wrong if the met ones approached the authorities going through the officially allowed channels ?
Just not allow repeat the kind – ruling politicians have to analyse the situation properly and take the action.
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woW / July 6, 2016
Does anybody else think that this guy has serious mental problems? Wonderful ministers we have in this country huh..
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Samuel Jayaweera / July 7, 2016
Best thing is to help him becoming normal.
That is what Germans do with their crime doers in controlling criminal potentials. Unlike the case inthe USA, sending some to jail in Germany, are subjected to face long term therapies. That is the way to go fowards- being praised by Psychologists and other professionals. On their return, there are no records -no signficant records to see those men once criminals becaem recurrent after tehm being set free. That is positive
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Sunil / July 6, 2016
Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma should hand in his resignation. His lack of knowledge as to what his appointment as Deputy Minister allows him to do. (He clearly does not know what the job of a Deputy Minister is)
His inability to follow the proper procedures to resolve the problem instead attempted to commit suicide in front of children sending a wrong message to these youngsters.
Ministers who continue to behave like this are giving Sri Lanka a really bad image globally.
take stern measures to prevent such politicians entering the system.
all political parties in future should come together to create a system to maintain a high standard and request that all candidates be highly qualified, have a psychological evaluation, have a sound understanding of the Law of the land, be checked for criminal records (if any serious crimes refuse party membership)
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BBS Rep / July 7, 2016
Sunil,
If we are to exclude criminals from becoming politicians in Sri Lanka I assure you we will have no politicians whatsoever. Ours is a parliament full of criminals – criminals of the worst kind, we have murderers, rapists and mass scale fraudsters among other criminal types.
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Alahakoon / July 6, 2016
Deputy Minster attempts suicide over ten Grade 1 children’s school admission. Exec President going on public demonstration with NGO demanding to Stop Torture. Demanding who? God? What sort of country is this?
Exec President asking “God??” to stop torture in his country?? Who is fooling who?
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Nuwan / July 6, 2016
It’s bloody funny isn’t it. Yahapalanaya is a process, but here we have a clown show.
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Daham / July 6, 2016
The SLFP Provincial council education minister has manipulated taking action against MP Thewarapperuma. May be Thewarapperuma’s arch rival Mahinda Samarasinghe(PIN AMATHI) who lost the parliamentary elections is also behind this operation. Thewarapperuma seems a very reasonable guy.
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Spring Koha / July 6, 2016
Who elected this man?
He has failed as a Deputy Minister.
He has failed in his suicide attempt.
Is he capable of doing anything right?
Good Governance has a very long way to go.
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Native Vedda / July 8, 2016
Spring Koha
His name Thewarapperuma sounds like a religious Tamil name.
Tevaram – Tamil Śaiva devotional poetry
Perumal (பெருமாள்) is Vishnu as he is described by the Tamil scriptures.
Is he related to your fragrant Irathinavalli?
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Spring Koha / July 8, 2016
Native Vedda
O what a fortuitous connection – and to a God.
Considering that the Fragrant Irathinavalli is a Godess – at least in my Pantheon – then the probability of a relationship is v high.
Long may the soft sibilant breezes of Sri Lanka blow!
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THUMPANE GAMAYA / July 6, 2016
Mathugama chief magistrate must be a lunatic to remand the poor helpless mothers of these children. Here we find ACE rouge Basil Rajapakse getting bailed at the entry gate to the courts and on certain occasions stupid magistrate leaving the bench and coming down to his foot steps (to the bogus sick bed in the ambulance) to extend bail. We need better breed of judges who understand poor peoples plight and not judges who sit and write bail papers for world crooks.
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Pacs / July 6, 2016
He and the demonstrators is a very good example to Gr one students . That is the foundation laid for SL’s future Citizens. Good country .
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Dilshan / July 6, 2016
Poor parents of those children who trusted Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma to help their children get primary school admission. Instead of finding a solution to the problem the Deputy Minister’s actions have led to the arrest of the parents adding to their problems.
This man has no idea of how to resolve a problem and the necessary procedures to be followed.
The sad part is people are still fooled into voting for these kind of politicians in all parties in Sri Lanka!
These fellows are only good at making Drama like this to get the attention of the people in an attempt to get their votes.
These kind of politicians will only lead to more Mahinda types to rise up instead of the well educated and capable politicians we need.
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Raj / July 6, 2016
What a clown. Obviously it is a stunt but I can’t understand what he was trying to gain with his suicide attempt, apart from personal publicity. Thevarapperuma has to be plain stupid not to understand that if the Head Master is to be blamed for not admitting these children to his school, correct action would be to bring this matter to the attention of the Ministry of Education for investigation & take action as necessary against the Head Master if found guilty. On the other hand, if the Head Master followed the rules, then it is the admission policy of the Ministry of Education that is to be blamed because the Ministry has a responsibility to ensure that every child receives an education.
Committing suicide is irrelevant (& against the law) but I suppose it works well with the poor masses in showing commitment & solidarity but I will be surprised if anybody would actually fall for it. This yob has done more harm by getting the poor mothers also arrested with his intervention. He has proved beyond doubt his incompetence & unsuitability as a MP (even ignoring the fact that he is a deputy Minister) if this is how he addresses issues in his constituency.
Despite so many Ministers, these yobs do not seem to know that interfering with Ministerial duties is not the accepted norm, so at least the party heads should educate them to follow protocol & standard procedure. No wonder the country is in a chaotic mess.
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BBS Rep / July 7, 2016
“correct action would be to bring this matter to the attention of the Ministry of Education for investigation”
Raj I hope you are only joking. Our education minister does not even know what HIV is. And recently over the issue of old boys sitting on admission boards he is making policies on the run. Do you seriously think the education minister is capable of solving any issue.
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justice / July 7, 2016
This incident shows the calibre of our so-called “ministers”.
He should have discussed the matter with the principal.
But, if all protests are “unlawful assemblies”, what are “lawful assemblies”?
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mike / July 7, 2016
CT Editor – On a different note, can I request Palitha Thevarapperuma (also the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs in Sri Lanka) to stage a “fast unto death” at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, because of the authorities (airlines) refusal to accept a dual citizenship certificate issued by the Sri Lanka government as a legal document for visa exemption.
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Upul / July 7, 2016
Mr. Clean….no ethics hearings for the attempted suicide? The last time I read it, the law says it is illegal to attempt suicide.
Maybe like the toy pistol from the Rajapakse era..this might be a ‘toy’ rope..
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Spring Koha / July 8, 2016
Upul
You are right; it is illegal to attempt suicide. You may be prosecuted if you fail.
This is the logic in our Miracle of Asia civilisation; success is knocked, failure is rewarded.
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