Kosgama blast: survivor-soldier's experience

Kosgama blast: survivor-soldier's experience

M.S. Padmasiri of the Artillery Battalion of Inginimitiya, Anamaduwa who is presently taking treatment at Homagama Hospital having sustained injuries from the blast of the ammunition depot has given a statement about the incident. This is how he describes the

explosion:

"At that time I was answering a telephone call and a mortar fell on the spot where I was. Having got scared about it I scampered under a bed there. At the same time a part of the roof of the building where I was, came down. Just then I heard a deafening noise accompanied with a blast. The whole area was covered with smoke. Pieces of ammunition were strewn all over the place. As I was running towards the billet I sensed several pieces of ammunition falling close to where I was. As a precautionary measure I kept remaining under the bed. Just then I saw a beam from a part of the roof where I was, falling down. Then I left that place and went and hid under a container. At that time the ammunition depot was on fire. Glasses in buildings close to the place where I was started shattering. As I was running from there my leg was cut by glass splinters.

I removed my shirt and tying up my leg I started running forward. Later I was brought to Homagama Hospital in an ambulance in the company of another. After that I came to know that my comrade had passed away".

Note -- Samanpriya Dolamulla - Homagama