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A statement issued by the Sri Lanka Women's NGO forum, expresses shock and dismay on the attack on the students and principal of Thakshila Vidyalaya.

We wish to express our shock and dismay regarding the reported attack on the school principal and students of Thakshila Vidyalaya in Gampaha according to newspaper reports. This attack on these individuals as well as on school property was a reaction to the protest made by the Principal of Thakshila Vidyalaya to the head of a boys school in the vicinity with reference to harassment of the students, stated a press release issued by the Sri Lanka Women's NGO Forum.

In the light of the fact that several reports of similar acts of violence have been reported in recent months, it is extremely regrettable that the Ministry of Education has apparently been unable to address the issues that allow such acts of destruction to take place. While the Sri Lankan constitution as well as the country's obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimiantion of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), contribute to the framework to protect the rights of its citizens, it is imperative that education authorities take special measures to ensure that gender based violence and discrimination is removed from the school environment. As citizens of Sri Lanka we need to be convincingly assured that schoolgirls are provided an enabling environment free of sexual and physical harassment to enjoy their right to education, it further stated.

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