Imesha - Sharon in Dehiwala train accident

Imesha - Sharon in Dehiwala train accident - Investigation

The incident involving the two schoolgirls Imesha Yasara and Sharon Veronica who died from a train tragedy in Dehiwala was an incident which became perhaps the biggest talk of the town last week.

Allegations were aimed at the media from the parties on the side of the deceased that some reports published were incorrect in this connection and they had rejected the point that they faced the mishap 'because they had earphones plugged in

their ears'.  The Head Prefect of the school inclusive of other groups of people had given telephone calls to various media having enforced the media to withdraw that part of the news.

However after the incident a team of Rupavahini cameramen had been present at Raymonds Funeral Parlour to capture on video the funeral proceedings of one of the students and in the process they had been subjected to objection by those present there with cameras being relieved from their procession, it was reported. The relatives involved had later taken steps to hand over the cameras; but the memory chips had been missing. The media had however on this occasion had the patience to face the aggressive behaviour of the student's relatives concerning this situation.

After the story that was revealed across the media that a party had been arranged on behalf of the boy friend but that the parents were told that they were going for a female friend's birthday party, the Dehiwala Police had proceeded to secure a statement from the said young man. What incidentally was at the bottom of this revelation was the information given by a friend of the boy who drove the vehicle concerned which incidentally was stated on a website published across the Facebook by another. The friend who made the comment had even not attended the final rites and because the others were outraged over his comments for revealing all this was supposed to be instead confining himself in his home, it was said. It was possible to know that on interrogation of the boy friend by the police that the information that the girl had rushed across the railway track in a mighty hurry because she had wanted to go there without his notice and that the accident had taken place because of that excitement, has been revealed.

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The accident has happened and finished now. But what should be taken into consideration is that there is something left behind for parents of nowadays to think about in connection with these mishaps.

The deceased Imesha had told the parents that she was going to attend a female friend's birthday party in Dehiwala after school was over after having attended a tuition class. She had subsequently been preparing herself to be present at the surprise party to be given to her boy friend and this was at her friend Sharon's home in Wellawatta. Later they had travelled in a vehicle to a super restaurant by the seaside and the vehicle happened to have been driven by a friend of her lover.

This type of behaviour is not something to be surprised at when taking into account a girl belonging to a high-middle class family of Colombo. But everybody in this country does not view this in the same perspective.

Is the action that this girl had engaged in by telling a lie to her parents and did so on behalf of her boy friend, correct or acceptable? From where does a schoolgirl have the money to spend for a super-party such as this? What business do girls have in spending time with boys during night time at beachside hotels? This question has occured in the minds of some people.

Tania Seneviratna the mother of Imesha Yasara Perera resident of Singharamulla, Kelaniya who identified the daughter's body had made the following statement in the presence of the Coroner, Mr. Parinda Kotugoda at the attestation conducted at Kalubowila Colombo South Teaching Hospital in relation to the incident where the two students met with a railway accident:

"The deceased is my daughter. My husband is ailing. Since he's suffering from Leukemia he didn't come. My daughter was to sit for the GCE Advanced Level Exam scheduled to be held next August. As far as I know she was not suffering from any ailment. On 26th morning she went to school. She attended Holy Family Convent in Bambalapitiya. After school was over my daughter attended a tuition class at Shakthi. She called me over the phone and said that after finishing that class she would be going for a friend's birthday party. After that at about 7.20 in the night we spoke to her over the phone. Later I went to the doctor with my husband. During that time we had received telephone calls. At about 8 in the night I called daughter. Since she didn't respond, I contacted a phone number I had received. It was then that I came to know that my daughter had got struck by a train".

On this occasion the Coroner Mr. Parinda Kotugoda expressed an advice of great concern. He said:  "Losing young valuable lives like this is a great loss to the country. If more attention was exercised at the time of crossing the railway track, both these students would have not had to give their lives. In the same way .... even parents, it is very important to focus more attention to their children".