Male teacher sentenced to one year of imprisonment for sexual harassment of female colleague

A male teacher who was accused of sexually harassing a female colleague at a boy's school in Colombo was sentenced to one year of imprisonment suspended for five years.

The sentence was passed by Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today (Mar 21).

The female teacher was previously terminated from her services for complaining before the media that justice was not delivered to her in this case. However, the Supreme Court, after taking into consideration a fundamental rights petition filed by the victim had ordered the termination to be revoked.

The accused was initially accquited over the incident by former Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage following which an appeal petition was filed at the High Court by the female teacher.

Measures were taken by the High Court to convict the suspect of the charges filed against him while also referring the case to the Magistrates Court again in order to impose the punishment.

During today's hearing, Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake had questioned the prosecution on whether compensation was required from the defendant to which the female teacher had replied otherwise.

Accordingly, Magistrate Dissanayake had issued a one year imprisonment sentence suspended for five years since the accused did not have any previous charges filed against him.

A fine of Rs 1500 was also imposed on the suspect by the Magistrate.