Negombo Principal bled himself to death

Had taken treatment  for mental sickness too ..... disliked to draw pension

      The Principal of St.Mary's College, Negombo was found mysteriously dead in his office toilet with cut injuries on his neck, last morning.

      59 year old Mr. Maxwell Donald Fernando, the Principal of the said school had been to the school at 6.oo in the morning and had even signed the attendance register. He had that morning even tapped on the shoulder of an A/L student in school, a relative of his and said, "study well putha". This had happened around 7.15 that morning.

     This mysterious death then is reported to have taken place between 7.15 and 7.30 that morning. The Vice-Principal who had been worried because the Principal usually turns up for the daily assembly was missing that day had on searching for him had found the Principal fallen inside the toilet, bleeding .... and then with the support of the others had managed to take him to the hospital.  But by then he had passed away. It was revealed at the inquest that death of the Principal Mr. Maxwell of St.Mary's College, Negombo was caused due to haemmorage. Police sources however reported on relevant investigations that the incident has not taken place because of an outsider. As such it is now believed to be a case of suicide.

     Today (1st) being the World Children's Day, he had already made all arrangements to conduct a celebration in school in order to commemorate this Day and he committing suicide with all this has now become a puzzle to everybody. It was reported that when he had fallen down inside the toilet, there were injuries on the neck as well as injuries with a vital vein in the leg being severed. For this reason he had bled profusely. A scissor used for cutting paper had been found close by with blood stains purportedly utilised to have caused such injuries.

     Mr. Maxwell who joined St.Mary's College as a Maths teacher in the year 1972 had been serving the school as Principal for a period of over 10 years. 59 year old Mr. Maxwell was a father of 3 children and he was to retire from service as a teacher from next November.

    It was revealed at the inquest held over the death in the presence of the Negombo Judicial Medical Officer Mr. A. Dayapala that Mr. Maxwell had been taking treatment for depression. Family members of Mr. Maxwell had produced the medical reports (prescriptions issued by the doctor) to prove that he had been taking medical treatment for mental stress.

    Mr. Maxwell had been a person who had strongly dedicated his towards St.Mary's College and it was understood that he was terribly sad over the fact that he had to go on retirement. Based on this disappointment, according to the police, a suspicion has arisen that Mr. Maxwell has put an end to his life for that very reason.

    The wife of Mr. Maxwell is presently attached to Holy Cross Colege, Negombo as a Principal herself and they are from Dalupotha area in Negombo.

    Additional Magistrate of Negombo Mrs. Dulni S. Weeratunga had been present  at the location of the incident as well as the Negombo hospital and had conducted the Magisterial inquest.

    Investigations are being conducted under the instructions of the DIG in charge of North West, Mr. L.G. Kularatna.