Ministry of Education Instructs Principals to Report Trees Posing Safety Hazards in Schools

COLOMBO (News 1st) -

Deputy Minister of Education Madura Seneviratne has instructed school principals to immediately report any trees posing safety hazards within school premises to the respective Divisional Secretaries or the Department of Forest Conservation.

The Deputy Minister made these remarks during a visit to inspect the damage caused by a falling branch of a Bo tree at Rajawaka Maha Vidyalaya in Balangoda.

He emphasized that school principals and education authorities must take swift and responsible action regarding hazardous trees to ensure student safety.

The incident at Rajawaka Vidyalaya resulted in the tragic death of a 17-year-old student, while 17 others sustained injuries when part of the Bo tree collapsed onto a school building.

The Ministry of Education stated that Deputy Minister Vithanage also visited the students currently receiving treatment at the Balangoda Hospital to inquire about their condition.

He also attended the final rites of the student who lost his life in the tragedy.