The PHI who sexually harassed school students under the guise of conducting a health check-up has fled.

Police have launched a wide-ranging investigation to arrest the Public Health Inspector (PHI) who is currently absconding from the area, after being accused of sexually, physically, and mentally harassing over twenty students of a popular school in the Kalmunai area under the guise of conducting a health check-up.

On the 18th, the aggrieved students informed their parents about the harassment they experienced during the health check-up organized by the said officer at the school. Subsequently, based on the information provided by the parents, the principal acted and submitted a written complaint to the Kalmunai Headquarters Police Station, requesting an investigation into the matter.

Acting on that complaint, the Kalmunai Headquarters Police summoned the principal of the relevant school and the aggrieved parties on the 19th to record their statements, and the suspected Public Health Inspector was also informed to appear to give a statement. However, the aggrieved party has also reported the information to the emergency hotline of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), and accordingly, the NCPA has instructed the Kalmunai Headquarters Police and the Ampara District Child and Women's Police Division to take immediate necessary action.

Investigations to arrest the suspect officer, who is currently absconding, are being conducted under the orders of Ampara Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sujith Wedamulla. Further investigations are being led by a police team including Kalmunai Headquarters Chief Police Inspector Mr. Lasantha Kaluarachchi and the officer-in-charge of the Child and Women's Bureau, Mrs. S.P.N.M. Swarnakanthi, under the direction of Ampara District Acting Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. Weerasinghe, and the guidance of Kalmunai Regional Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. M.K. Ibnu Asar.