Six school players get bail
Six school rugby players from St. Peter’s College, accused of sexually harassing a minor teammate, have been released on bail after appearing before the Colombo Magistrate Courts on Wednesday. Police did not oppose bail considering the accused are school students. Although they were originally scheduled to appear on May 15, they appeared in court on May 14 through a motion.
The court appearance followed their failure to provide statements to the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) regarding the alleged incident. The next hearing is scheduled for May 27 before Additional Magistrate Keminda Perera. According to NCPA sources, the Attorney General will now determine whether the case proceeds to the High Court for further legal proceedings.
The alleged incident occurred during a training camp on April 22, when the senior players reportedly attempted to molest their 15-year-old teammate. Reports indicate that when the younger player resisted their advances, he was physically assaulted. The victim’s parents approached the NCPA after the school allegedly failed to conduct a proper investigation. Under Sri Lankan law, sexual abuse constitutes a serious offence under Section 345 of the Penal Code. If convicted, the defendants could face up to five years’ imprisonment, substantial fines, or both, depending on the severity of the offence. In the aftermath of the incident, St. Peter’s College—the defending league champions and knockout runners-up—withdrew from the ongoing Dialog President’s Trophy Under-19 Schools Knockout Rugby Tournament, citing disciplinary concerns.