Student killed by lawn-roller - UPDATES

Senitha died .... because of damage to heart and liver

It was revealed at the postmortem conducted yesterday (Jan 21) by Addl. Judicial Officer Mr. Rool Haq of JMO's office, Colombo that the cause of death of the student who passed away as a result of the accident related to the turf-roller used to level the pitch of the playground of Ananda College was due to serious injury resulting in excessive damage to the heart and liver. It has also been revealed at investigations conducted by Maradana police that this death is free
of any suspicion. The Principal of Ananda College Mr. Kithsiri Liyanagamage expressed that if the roller used to level the pitch which resulted in the student Senitha Wijeysingha's death would have been averted if it had been kept at a safe place.

The Principal mentioned that it was the workers of Ananda College who were in charge of the roller.Though the basic reason for this accident was exposed, he also mentioned that an impartial inquiry has already been initiated by the College comprising a committee of three while the Minister of Education too has appointed an investigating committee.

As the school House Sports Meet will be held on forthcoming 31st, the children were engaged in practises during which time this unfortunate accident had taken place.

It was Senitha Wijeyasingha, a 9 year old student studying in grade 4 who unexpectedly died as a result of this turf-roller. it is a matter of interest to note that the deceased child's father happens to bean Old Boy of Ananda College himself.

Senitha who hails from Malabe area has two sisters while he is the only boy in the family.

"Four small boys were pushing the turf-roller. At once Senitha malli went and tried to get hold of the handle from the side where the roller is lifted. It was then that malli got pushed and he was pinned on the wall with the iron pipe sticking on him". So said a student who saw the accident of the 4 Year student who later passed away. The witness was playing in the playground of Ananda College at about 7.30 last morning.

"Those small boys were throwing 'murukku' at the roller and trying to get them smashed with the roller. When four of them started pushing the roller towards the wall, Senitha malli lifted the moving roller from the side from which the roller is lifted. It was then that malli got pushed with the roller and got pinned against the wall. The part of the handle with the iron-rod had got pressed on to his stomach area," the student further said. 

When this accident took place, a student of the school who had finished his O/Levels and who took the victim to the pavilion had this to say. "One malli came and told me that a malli had got stuck by a turf-roller and had fainted.I and another student from Parakrama House went to that place and lifted that malli and took him to the athlete's dressing room. That malli's eyes we saw was closed; but he was breathing. Later the teachers got together and took him to the hospital.

The police say that at the moment this student was taken to Lady Ridgeway Hospital he had already passed away. Director of Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Dr. Ratnasiri Hewage said, "This student was brought to the hospital at about 7.30 in the morning. Even at that time he had died. There were no external injuries seen on his body. Doctors tried to activate his heart; but it was not successful".

Attention of the Minister of Education has been drawn towards this tragic accident and a circular has been issued giving instructions to prevent sports equipment such as this going into the hands of students. School sources say that two sports masters had been present at the playground when this incident occured.