The Supreme Court had ordered former North Central CM Peshala Jayaratne to pay Rs 250,000 in compensation over what it termed the unfair transfer of the Principal of Niwaththaka Chethiya MV in Anuradhapura. 

The transfer was made in 2016 under directives of the Chief Minister. 

The students of the school went on to stage  a demonstration to show their displeasure with the transferof their principal R. P. Karunaratne.

The schools's Parents' Association organiser Abdul Salem told media at that point that said the Principal was an A grade Principal who ran the school efficiently.