Teacher’s car fire incident : No charges against child, school refutes claims

The Old Boys’ Association of Sir John Kothalawala College says that although the child admitted to lighting matches which caused a teacher’s car to catch fire, being only about eight years old, neither the school administration nor Sri Lanka Police has filed charges or treated him as an offender, and will not do so. Issuing a statement, the Association emphasized that no charges or pressure will be placed on the child, firmly rejecting social media claims that school authorities exerted undue influence. The incident occurred on July 3 at 2.55 pm when the teacher’s car caught fire inside the school premises. CCTV footage later revealed a small child loitering near the vehicle and discarding a matchbox. The teacher lodged a complaint with Kurunegala Headquarters Police for insurance purposes, submitting CCTV footage and photos, but did not mention the child’s name. The teacher has not pressured the child or parents in any way. He did not mention the child’s name in complaints. However, the mother has included the child’s name in complaints against the teacher, which is regrettable, the statement said. On July 4, the child, along with his parents, was questioned before the Principal and Deputy Principal, where he admitted to lighting several matches and throwing one into the car’s bumper. The parents confirmed the act, and the father pledged compensation for the damage. Police officers from the Science of Crime Office (SOCO) conducted an inspection and permitted the car to be taken for repairs. The Old Boys’ Association emphasized that the child continues to attend school regularly and that his safety and rights are being safeguarded. They condemned distorted social media posts that circulated CCTV footage and reports in ways that defamed the school. The child’s younger brother in Grade 2 has not been scolded or punished by the teacher regarding earlier scratches on the car. Parents confirmed this. The teacher regrets that repairs cannot be done yet due to lack of insurance compensation or spare parts, the Association said. The affected teacher, described as highly dedicated to Grade 5 students, continues his duties without interruption, conducting voluntary extra classes and online lessons despite the incident. The Association also criticized the parents for leaving the child unsupervised for over three hours after school ended, stressing that responsibility for children’s safety lies with parents, not the school staff. On July 03, after school ended at 1 pm, children left. But the child remained until 4 pm, over three hours. Allowing such a small child under 8 years to remain unnecessarily at school is a serious fault of the parents. Parents must take children home immediately after school, the Old Boys’ Association said, expressing strong disapproval. The Association reiterated that the case highlights broader concerns about child safety and serves as a warning to society about the unnecessary use of mobile phones by small children. (Newswire)