Protest erupts outside Colombo school over suicide of Tamil schoolgirl Amshi

Hundreds of protestors gathered outside Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College in Bambalapitiya this week, demanding justice for 16-year-old Amshi, a Tamil schoolgirl who died by suicide after reportedly enduring prolonged sexual abuse by her Maths teacher.

The protest, which blocked Colombo’s Duplication Road, saw demonstrators calling for the immediate arrest and permanent suspension of the accused teacher. They also condemned the school’s principal and other staff members, accusing them of shielding the perpetrator and failing to protect the student. 

Amshi died by suicide in Kotahena earlier this month, drawing island-wide attention. Her parents, speaking to the media soon after her death, stated that her passing was directly linked to her having been sexually abused by a male teacher while she was a student at Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College.

“In the final death note left by the student, she has clearly stated who is responsible for driving her to this state,” another teacher of hers told reporters.

“In that letter, she has written everything — where she went, where she stayed, every detail. How can they possibly claim that such a child was mentally unstable? They never confirmed it with me — so how can they come to such a conclusion on their own?” said her father. “She was a very good child, and she was raised with great care.”

Her mother added, “Society should have listened to what she had to say — but on what grounds do they claim that she was mentally unstable? She only took medication for headaches. Saying she was mentally unstable or suffering from psychological issues is completely wrong. It was only after the incident at this school that she began experiencing emotional distress.”

“She had cried a lot because of what happened at the school,” the mother continued. “Even when I told her it was a small matter, she was deeply hurt and said, ‘How can you call this a small matter, Mum?’”

Reports also indicate that Amshi was further humiliated at a private tuition centre, where the tutor allegedly mocked her over the sexual abuse complaint in front of her classmates and told her she was no longer welcome.

Despite a complaint being filed with Sri Lanka’s Bambalapitiya Police, the teacher was arrested and subsequently released on bail. 
“The student, having been subjected to continuous psychological abuse over the past one and a half years, has now been driven to a point where she feels compelled to end her own life,” said her teacher, criticising Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education and others for “remaining silent, lacking the courage to question the injustice inflicted upon the students.”

“Upon reviewing the student’s certificates, it is evident that she had excelled in multiple areas—securing first place in speech competitions, receiving certificates in sports, language proficiency, and debate forums. Until the year 2023, she was a remarkably active and accomplished student. The sudden decline in her performance holds the school administration accountable.”

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has confirmed that the National Child Protection Authority is conducting an investigation into the matter.