SRI LANKA: Children abused and sexually harassed by the teacher for two years

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a primary school teacher Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala (Buddhist monk) has allegedly harassed children physically and mentally including in sexual ways, and consistently denied their religious freedom for last two years. 

According to our source who followed up the case, child abuse by Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala is explained in 20 odd ways. Also, it is reported that he had been transferred from the previous school in Monarangala Vidiyalaya for charges on child abuse. More seriously, it is alleged that Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala assaulted the two his fellow teachers physically and mentally several times. One of the two teachers made a complaint to the police station but there has been no serious action taken by the police yet. Even though parents of the children have made several written and oral complaints to the principal, nothing happened to correct this matter. Now the children’s parents fear that their children would soon become victims of rape or torture if this matter is not settled immediately. 

Please send a letter to the local authorities to suspend Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala’s service at school and to conduct impartial inquiries into this matter. 

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
—————————————————–

DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of victims: 1. Students of age 06 to 13 (year 01-08) at the primary school attached to the Ampitiya Berawattes College, 2. Ms. X, 24, a fellow teacher, 3, Ms. Y, A catholic nun and volunteer teacher of the school (Names were withheld for victims’ security) 
Alleged perpetrator: Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala, 45, a Buddhist monk and teacher of the primary school attached to the Ampitiya Berawattes College
Place of abuse: the primary school attached to the Ampitiya Berawattes College
Period of abuse: Since in the end of 2002 until now 

Case details:

Primary school teacher Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala has allegedly been accused of harassing children and denying their religious freedom at the primary school attached to the Ampitiya Berawattes College since the end of 2002. Moreover, there is allegation that he has sexually harassed the students continuously. Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala has a history of child abuse. (He was transferred from the previous school in Monarangala Vidiyalaya for charges of child abuse.)

The school was by founded by Fr Berawattes but the school administration was taken over by the Sri Lankan government when the catholic students became a minority in the school in 1962. 70 catholic students are currently studying in the school. In 2001, Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala (a Buddhist monk) was transferred to the school. According to the testimony of the students, his harassment of the children started in the end of 2002. 

Denial of the children’s freedom of religion and degrading treatment 

Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala has harassed the catholic children in all forms. Below are just a few examples of them. 

1. On 8 February 2004, Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala ordered the catholic students of year 06 to go out of classroom and draw a cross in the sand. He then made all the children jump across it and remarked that the catholic children paid no respect to the cross.

2. On 11 February 2004, Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala ordered some catholic children to draw a bible on the floor. Then, he ordered the catholic students of year 07 to walk on the bible while degradingly making a mockery out of it.

It is reported that he has told to the children that Christ is a terrorist, murderer and womaniser.

Molesting, harassment and abuse of children

Child abuse by Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala is explained in 20 odd ways including touching, removing clothes and using vulgar words. Below are a few examples of them. 

1. On 22 January 2004, Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala has molested student A and B of year 7 (names were withheld) by touching the breasts inside of the classroom saying that they should have bigger breasts.

General description of the abuse on the children: The junior catholic children (both male and female) were manhandled, sexually abused and often tortured physically in public. Boys were naked and were caned in the classroom. The students were forded to leave the classroom if they did not denounce Christ. Some students who made a complaint about him were forced to leave the school. Even though the parents have made complains to the principal (an ex-Buddhist monk) and the director of the school several times, no serious action has yet been taken. Not even any inquiry was held. The fellow teachers and parents believe that Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala is mentally ill and not fit to be a teacher. Parents fear that their children would soon become victims of rape or torture if the matter is not settled immediately. The abused students have sent postcards complaining about the incidents to the school principal.

Assault and harassment of colleagues

Case 1: Assault and threat to Ms. X:
On 24 June 2003, the teacher Ms. X (24 years old) was physically assaulted by that Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala in front of students of year 07 in the classroom. She was organising a religious festival on the 10th anniversary of the religion classroom and she selected 4 Buddhist children for dancing during the event. The selected Buddhist children gladly came to participate in the dance but Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala was furious about this and scolded Ms. X in filth. When Ms. X requested him not to scold her in filth, he assaulted her in front of the students. He further threatened her not to come back to the school again saying that if she comes she would be raped. Ms. X went to the Kandy Police Station with her mother and made complaint about this incident but the police have not started any inquiry or investigation into this matter. (the police entry number: C.I.B no; 362/529 of 24-06-2003)
When Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala heard that Ms. X made a compliant against him to the police station, he went to her house and instructed the house owner to chase her family immediately. Ms. X family had to leave the house three days later. Further he threatened Ms. X saying that she would be kidnapped and raped because she made a complaint against him. It is reported that on several occasions, Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala beat Ms. X in the classroom and forced her to leave the school. Ms. X is living with her mother and the younger sister who has disability in speaking. Her father died when she was a small child.

Case 2: Abuse of Ms. Y, a teacher for the catholic religion class:
The Salvadorian catholic sister Ms. Y was teaching in the school from 1 March 2003 to 29 February 2004. Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala often abused her in filth with his friend Laxman who is an outsider but visits the school almost daily. They passed funny remarks about Christ in front of her. 
On 12 February 2004, the catholic Sister Ms. Y, who was volunteering of teaching the students, ordered the children of year 7 to remove some flower plants from the flowerbed. When the children were doing so Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala came and started to beat the student C and D among them with a cane. He also lodged a complaint to the education office about removing plants and two officers came to the school twice to inquiry the case against the Sister. Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala also forced her to leave the school and finally she transferred to the Hindagala School from March 2004.

School authority’s indifference and the police inaction

Parents of the children have made several written and oral complaints to the school principal, Mr. L.A.B Kularatne but he did not take any action to correct this matter. 

According to our source, he commented, “It is difficult to summarise all the incidents that happened during last two years, as it then is more likely to become a book.” It illustrates how seriously the children have been abused by Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala. Considering his unbelievable behaviour, parents and the fellow teachers think that Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala is mentally ill. They eager the police to start the investigation about their complaints immediately and bring him to justice by laws. 

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or email to the addresses below and request them to suspend Ven Harankahawe Chandrawimala’s service immediately and conduct impartial inquiries into this matter.

1. Professor Harendra De Silva 
Chairperson
National Child Protection Authority – Sri Lanka
NO 330, Thalawathugoda Road, Madiwela, 
Sri Jayawardenapura, 
SRI LANKA 
Tel: +94 11 2 778911, 2778912 or 2778913
Fax: +94 11 2 778915 
Email: info@childprotection.gov.lk

2. Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo-1, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 2 333 703

3. Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy
Chairperson 
National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka 
No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8 
SRI LANKA 
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806 
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470 
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk

4. Hon. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan 
Attorney General 
Attorney General’s Department 
Colombo 12 
SRI LANKA 
Fax: +94 11 2 436 421 
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net or counsel@sri.lanka.net

5. Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya PC 
Chairman National Police Commission 
69-1 Ward Place, Colombo 7 
SRI LANKA 
Fax: +94 11 2 669 128 / 691 926 
Fax HOME: +94 11 2 674148

6. Mr. Theo C. van Boven 
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture 
OHCHR-UNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND 
Fax: +41 22 917 9016 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER