PILIMATHALAWA QUINTUPLETS: WHERE ARE THEY?

What are the quintuplets who were born 8 years doing right now?

A story of a mother of quintuplets who was very happy at their birth was reported last week from Kegalle. Eight years ago such a story was reported from Pilimathalawa. Prof. Kapila Gunawardana was the surgeon who performed their mother’s cesarean surgery. Nimal Piyathissa was the father and Chamila Weerasekara was the mother of the quintuplets.
The quintuplets are studying in Grade three and Rivira published an article on their whereabouts. The following article had been extracted from Rivira.
“The quintuplets were born on the 06th of October 2004 keeping a record at the Cassel Hospital. The happy couple of were Nimal Piyathissa and Chamila Weerasekara. They were three girls and two boys and their names were selected by Arisen Ahubudu: Sineli Dilnethmi, Siyumi Dinanga, Sathmi Jayathma, Sathira Pasanjth and Saditha Janakwith.
It was a miracle for Chamila Weerasekara to have got five children when she was expecting for children for five years. Chamila and Nimal had to make many sacrifices when their five children grew up. They had to sacrifice their sleep, rest and time even to take a meal peacefully. Even though many media exaggerated on their donations, they have still been promises which had not been fulfilled till today. 
They were five years old in 2010. Chamila’s and Nimal’s dream was to give them good education after them finishing their nursery education. Their dream came true as they were able to admit their daughters into Visakha Vidyalaya and the sons into Royal College.
“We could admit the children into these schools as we could fulfill the requirements without anyone’s support. They go to school by the three-wheeler.”
These children are studying in Grade three and they will be in Grade 5 in two years time.
“All five of them study well. We haven’t sent them to classes still but they have a clear idea of the Scholarship exam. They are clever.”
Chamila told us that the children don’t trouble them now and that they help the parents whenever they can with little things they are capable of.
“It is not very difficult in the morning. When we wash them they can dress themselves up. We only have to help with the tie. They help to prepare their lunch boxes. They answer the telephone calls and now I am really fond of them.”
It is something which can be comprehended by everyone that it is a difficult task to maintain a large family from a salary of a Sub-Inspector.
“Maliban Company is providing us milk every month and that is all we get from outsources.”
That is all we get and that too is such a great strength. Nimal finds it very difficult to provide for five children at once when it comes to necessary expenditure. Last October 06th, they celebrated their 8th birthday and even though the parents could not celebrate it with a big party, they commemorated their children’s birthday by cutting a small cake.
“They are really scared when we get sick. They go near the Buddha statue or Goddess Paththini’s statue and pray for us. They love to be around us all the time.”
Their house is filled with laughter and happiness. In another 10 to 20 years they will be grownups and there is no doubt that the parents will be really proud to have such strength at their old age.
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Article by Biyanka Nanayakkara
Photographs by: Chamila Karunarathne.