A girl from Dambulla in her schooling age has been deprived of education for several years for not possessing a birth certificate. The girl known as K. G. Samanthika Premasiri is 14-years-old and was born at Aladithenna Hospital
in Haputale. She is residing at Wewala wewa in Dambulla area with her mother, step father and two younger brothers. Mother of the girl, P. Annapuranm said that the girl was born on October 01, 2007.Accompanied by her mother and the step father A. Nadarajah the girl has moved to Erawwala area in Dambulla later and when she reached
the schooling age the principal of the school in the area had allowed her to study in the school even though she did not possess a birth certificate.Her mother said that they had to move to Wewala wewa area to attend to employment. There the principal of the school in that area was reluctant to admit the girl to the school without a birth certificate and
without proof of previous education. A. Nadarajah is a resident of Ragala in Nuwara Eliya, while P. Annapuranam is from Matale. Now they are employed at a Tea Estate in Wewala wewa. They said that they could get the birth certificates to the two other younger children. They said that they could not get assistance from the authorities to get the birth certificate for the girl.Queried by the media Dambulla Divisional Secretary Piyal Jayasuriya said that he had not been informed of such an incident. He added that the government has taken many measures to issue birth certificates to all citizens. There are mobile programmes too at times organized to assist such needy people.
He further said being unable to get it done by parents for 14 years, there is a serious flaw on the side of parents. He added however one could not be deprived of education due to the fact that he or she is without a birth certificate.
He said further, if the girl was taken to a school, even the principal should take measures to get the birth certificate done for the child. He added however, it is better if the relevant Grama Seva Niladari to attend to the matter and prepare all the needy documents for the girl to attend a school.
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