Susantha isolated with son after mother in law, wife and two children die of burns when driving with tube inserted into plastic can ... seeks solace in the sasana with son who was left

Susantha isolated with son after mother in law, wife and two children die of burns when driving with tube inserted into plastic can ... seeks solace in the sasana with son who was left

A van in which carried a crowd returning from a funeral of a relative with members of the family on January 26th, 2012 had suddenly caught fire in Elmodera, Kalutara and a loving father who saw his wife, mother in law and small children burnt to death inside the van with his own eyes was able to fortunately save his own life and that of his son after which he entered the sasana with his son recently. 

It was 42 year old Susantha Sanjeewa Ginimalge of Batugampola, Handapangoda close to Ingiriya
who escaped the tragedy. Having thrown his wife and daughter out of the blazing fire were able to save their lives on that occasion while he and his son managed to save their lives after he and his son received serious injuries. During the period when this incident happened, Mr. Susantha was a civil servant at Panagoda army camp. 

The said accident has occured at Elmodera, Kalutara when his family and had attended a funeral and were returning home and it was reported by media those days that there had been no petrol tank in this van that caught fire and that the vehicle was driven with the assistance of petrol-tube attached to a plastic can. It was also reported that there was an extra petrol can in the rear of the van that caught fire and that this helped more for the fire to spread rapidly. It then became quite evident that the life of Mr. Susantha was indeed at stake who incidentally who was in the midst of this scene and saw it with his own eyes and realised the impermanence of life. 

Mr. Susantha who thus understood that there is no end in this journey in samsara kept on gazing at monks traversing the road and though his thoughts ran to the temple; but he nevertheless had to block his desire of getting himself ordained because of not being able to make up his mind to fulfill that desire by isolating his small son and daughter. It was when Mr. Susantha was gripped with a thousand and one problems that he happens to meet Panalla Muketiyagoda Sri Gangathilaka viharadhipathi Gugulle Somaloka Theo. Somaloka Thero who after giving ear to Mr. Susantha's story of woe then later after engaging in a discussion with teacher of Homagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Vidyalaya and Viharadhikari of Nimalagama, Ingiriya close to Mr. Susantha's village, Sadhalankara Thero in the end consented to accept Mr. Susantha's only son into the sasana. Thus this 14 year old son of Mr. Susantha finally entered sasana as Batagala Pagnaloka. Mr. Susantha seeing his only son dressed in saffron robes and setting foot on the road further flared up his desire to be ordained; but he had to hide that longing within his heart because of his daughter who was in fact still schooling. However, later after handing over the legal custody of his daughter to a brother of his, Mr. Susantha was able to achieve his dream of entering the sasana under guidance of Gugule Somaloka and Ethimale Sadhalankara Theros. 

A celebration of welcoming this father - son duo held at Nimalagama Vihara, Batugampola, Ingiriya and this lovable father - son combination strolled the road adorned in saffron robes ... bringing tears into the eyes of all onlookers. 

(Ingiriya - Nimali Kahawala)