More than 50 students and teachers were injured on Wednesday morning after wasps from a nest on the premises of Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam attacked students and staff, triggering panic across the school. At least 39 students were admitted to hospital for treatment, while the deputy principal and two teachers were also hospitalised.
According to eyewitness accounts, students fled classrooms in fear, abandoning their school bags and learning materials as they attempted to shield themselves from the attacking wasps using branches and nearby objects. Several parents and teachers described the scene as chaotic, recalling conditions similar to the panic experienced during air raids in the civil war years.
Public concern intensified amid reports that the danger had been known well in advance. School authorities had formally informed relevant departments in writing nearly two months ago about the presence of a wasp nest within the premises, warning that it posed a serious risk to students and staff. Despite this, no preventive action was taken before Wednesday’s incident.
Only after the attack did officials from multiple agencies — including the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the District Disaster Management Unit, security forces, and education authorities — visit the school to assess the situation.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation later removed the wasp nest, capturing the wasps alive and relocating them to the Kokavil forest area. Officials said chemicals were also applied to the same section of the school building to prevent the wasps from rebuilding a nest at the site.
The department further warned that burning or killing wasp nests is a punishable offence under wildlife protection laws. Anyone found engaging in such acts will be arrested and subjected to legal action.
While no fatalities were reported, parents have raised serious questions about accountability and institutional negligence. “Had a child lost their life today, who would have taken responsibility?” one parent asked, calling for urgent reforms in preventive safety planning at schools.
Educationists and civil society groups argue that the incident highlights a broader governance failure — where action is taken only after a crisis occurs rather than through timely risk assessment and prevention.
