Fresh controversy has erupted over a disputed dry ration collection drive at Thurstan College in Colombo, with the school’s parents’ union alleging that some of the donated food items had already expired and that the distribution programme was quietly relocated after media scrutiny.

The union said goods collected from parents were found to have passed their expiry dates despite plans to distribute them on Tuesday (29). It further alleged that the principal abandoned the original plan to send the items to schools on Delft Island (Neduntheevu) once the controversy drew press attention, deciding instead to send them to several schools in Jaffna. The goods are now expected to be handed over to the Jaffna Zonal Education Office.

The allegations follow earlier claims that the school had asked parents of students from Grades 1 to 13 to donate dry rations and school supplies for around 600 students across 10 schools on Delft Island, raising concerns about compulsory collections and the financial burden on families.

According to the parents’ union, the principal told parents the initiative formed part of a Health Promotion Programme under the Education Ministry. Ministry officials later confirmed they were unaware of any such programme and that no approval had been granted, the union said. It also alleged that parents were instructed not to publicise the collection drive.

The union said teachers had been directed to report for duty and travel to Jaffna to take part in the distribution, despite the project allegedly lacking ministry approval. It questioned how a large-scale collection and distribution exercise could be organised without permission.

The parents’ union has asked the Consumer Affairs Authority to inspect the quality of the donated goods before they are distributed.

Some parents previously said individual classes collected goods worth more than Rs. 24,000, and the union alleged that students had earlier been asked to contribute Rs. 500 each for Vesak lantern decorations.

A senior Education Ministry official told the Daily Mirror the ministry was unaware of the programme and reiterated that no approval had been granted. The newspaper said several attempts to obtain a response from the Thurstan College principal were unsuccessful.

Government policy holds that while voluntary donations cannot be prohibited, schools have no legal authority to compel parents to contribute.