The new Principal of Royal College, Colombo, assumed duties last evening.

He takes over from Upali Gunasekara, who was transferred with immediate effect to the Ministry of Education earlier this week. Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that the transfer was carried out following investigations on various malpractices in the school.

Abeyratne was transferred to Royal College to take Gunasekara's place, only days after being appointed as the Principal of Thurstan College, Colombo.