Students died because of negligence of teachers

Students died because of negligence of teachers

Allegations have been launched against teachers for having been negligent in the case where four students lost their lives having gone to bathe in Trincomalee, Gomarankadawala and Medawachchiya wewa. It was revealed at the post-mortem carried out on the students at Trincomalee
general hospital that they had died of asyphyxia due to suffocation. 

The deceased are students studying in grade 10 of Badulla, Hali Ela Vidyalaya and are fourteen year old D.M. Anuhas Samadhi, Umesh Sehan, Nethika Galapitagedera and Tharusha Anjana. Kith and kin of the victims have identified the bodies at Trincomalee general hospital after which the post-mortem was carried out. The post-mortem was held by judicial medical officer, specialist Dr. Ruchira Nadeera and assistant Dr. M/s Chamali Abeysekera of Trincomalee hospital. 

"Wife told me that our child is going on an educational tour. His grandmother had cautioned him not to go and bathe in wewas. I actually did not like the child going on this tour. It was those at school who had encourage the child for this. We were not in favour of the child going. But the thero said that he would accept the responsibility. Responsibility of this incident must be borne by the thero and teachers", said Mr. W.M. Weerasena who spoke about the incident in tears giving evidence. He was  attached to Chinaport air force camp, father of Tharusha Anjana who lost his life having gone to bathe in Medawachchiya, Gomarankadawala. 

"It is my second child who has lost his life like this. My husband is attached to the army camp at Mattakkuliya. This trip was organised after school commenced in January. Son left home for the tour. Uncle called at 10 in the night and said that the children had faced some trouble. When I called the Sinhala sir at 10 in the night the students will take a wash and and would be taken after that. After that the phone was inactive. No suspicion about the death", father of deceased student Nethika Galapitagedera, Mr. Ruwan Galapitagedera said. 

Student R.M. Umesh Shehan Mihiranga's father, R.M. Gamini Rathnayaka said, "It is my eldest child who died. My son and my elder brother's son left on the trip together from his place. Elder brother called and said that the children are in trouble. It was only later that I came to know that my child had died. 

Subsequently, inquirer into sudden deaths requested for evidence from deputy principal, Mr. R.M. Ashokapala who was in charge of escorting the students as to why the students were not prevented from getting into the waters in their underwear and he was silent on that occasion; it was thus deduced that these deaths occured on the negligence of the teachers. 

Judicial medical officer, Dr. Ruchira Nadeera gave the verdict at the post-mortem examination that the students have died having drowned. After the post-mortem matters were over, the bodies were handed over to the kith and kin of the deceased. 

The other three children who were rescued while in the process of drowning were, Dilina Mihiranga and A.M. Ranindu Navin Rathnayaka and are receiving treatment at Trincomalee general hospital. Soon after this incident was brought to the notice of Badulla Zonal Education director, Mr. Sarath Munasingha he arrived here. "Approval has been secured from the educational office division for this trip. But a sad thing has happened which we never thought of", he said. 

This crowd had come to Trincomalee in two buses for this annual education tour. 42 schoolgirls, 44 schoolboys, a thero of the teaching staff of that school and seven teachers have joined on this tour, police say. 86 students (44 boys) and 42 girls and 8 teachers have attended this educational tour. Having toured Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee, they had day before yesterday (19) evening arrived at Surulu Maha Muniyawa Vihara, Gomarankadawala and taken refuge there. Later, at about six in the evening about 40 students have come in the company of teachers to have a bath at Medawachchiya wewa close to the vihara. While bathing, seven boys had got drowned while bathing and later the villagers and army personnel have combined have managed to rescue the children who were drowning and have them dispatched them to hospital. 

Trincomalle -- Lakmal K. Baduge; Badulla -- Sulaksha Piyatissa

Etempitiya -- Rathna Weerasingha