More than 80 students of Rishikul Sanatan College are currently locked out of the school.
Although it has been made clear the school will be open today, the school committee has locked up the main gates of Rishikul with a message that the school will be closed until further notice.
Our reporter at the scene said that some students came and waited outside the school for about half an hour this morning and returned home while about 80 students remain outside the school compound hoping that the gates will be opened and normal classes will continue today.
Two teachers also arrived in the last half hour and they are also awaiting word from the Education Ministry.
Meanwhile the Interim Education Minister has stressed this morning that Rishikul Sanatan College will continue with normal classes today.
Following the announcement by the Rishikul management that the school will be closed until further notice, Interim Minister, Filipe Bole has made it clear that the management cannot order the closure of the school.
Bole said any such move would be illegal and he calls on all the students of Rishikul to attend school today.
While reacting to reports that the management was planning to cut off the water and power supply if the school is opened this morning, Bole said the management should think of the children who attend Rishikul Sanatan College.
Police have also confirmed that as far as they are concerned, Rishikul Sanatan College will be open today.
Officer in Charge, Valelevu Police ASP Manoj Singh said that police officers will be present at the school from this morning to maintain the peace between the School Management and the Principal, Mahendra Pal adding that their first priority is the student's safety.
On the other hand Rishikul Manager, Vijay Nair's Solicitor, Rajendra Chaudhry has confirmed to Village News, that the school will not open saying this was a management decision. The management maintains that they do not want the Principal Mahendra Pal in the school premises.
Village News has also received confirmation that the Rishikul management has decided that they will not hand over the keys of the Principal's Office to the Principal Mahendra Pal who was forcefully taken into school premises by the police yesterday.
Rishikul students locked out,Gates closed
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