It has been revealed in an audit that 17 children have been admitted to the intermediate classes of Katugastota St. Anthony’s Girls’ School forging the signature of the Education Ministry’s (Educational Quality Development and Educational Reforms) Additional Secretary H. U. Premathilaka.
The audit has revealed that these children have been enrolled in Grades 2,3,4,7,8 and 9 between 2018 and 2021. These letters were addressed directly to the principal. It has been revealed that all the letterheads with the forged signature of the Additional Secretary are also not the official letterheads of the Education Ministry. Many of the positions and addresses of the parents mentioned in the letters for the admission of these students are also fake and the Provincial Education Ministry has started a special investigation. In addition to the 17 children who were admitted using forged signatures of the Additional Secretary of Education, it has also been revealed that 180 children have been admitted to the intermediate classes of the school during the relevant period contrary to the circulars.
The audit report also indicated that a full investigation should be carried out to confirm the authenticity of the documents.
H.U. Preamathilaka, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education has informed in writing that he has not sent any letter notifying the admission of children to any school in the Central province and that his signature used for the admission of children to the St. Anthony’s girl is a forgery. He has also called for an investigation in this regard.
Copies of the audit report have been forwarded to the Education Ministry Secretary, Chief Secretary of Central Province, Chief Secretary of Provincial of Education, Provincial Director of Education and Kandy Regional Director of Education.