Grade 6 Student's Kidney Removed After Falling into School Drain

 A tragic incident has been reported where a Grade 6 student of Kandegoda Maha Vidyalaya, belonging to the Balapitiya Educational Division, had to undergo surgery to remove a kidney after falling into an unsafe drain at the school. This child, a resident of Kurunduwatta, Watugedara,

faced this accident on the 27th of last month, and due to the worsening of his condition, he was admitted to Balapitiya Base Hospital, where doctors performed the surgery.

According to Ms. Niluka Kumari, Balapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha Member and aunt of the child who faced the incident, when questioned by the class teacher after being found crying in the classroom following the accident, the child informed her of what happened. Subsequently, following notification from the school, the child's mother took him to Ambalangoda Polwatta Hospital, from where he was transferred to Balapitiya Base Hospital for further treatment. Medical examinations and scans performed there revealed severe damage to his kidneys, leading doctors to recommend the removal of one kidney to save the child's life.

The child's father is a mechanic by profession, and the family has another one-and-a-half-year-old child, according to family relatives. Relatives accuse the school principal of not visiting the child or even making a phone call to inquire about his well-being after this serious incident. Ms. Niluka Kumari further stated that the drain system around the school buildings is in a very unsafe condition, and permission is not granted to enter the school premises to take photographs of it.

When attempts were made to contact Mr. Y.

Amarasinghe, the Principal of Kandegoda Maha Vidyalaya, for a comment on this matter, he stated that he could not issue a statement and advised to obtain the relevant information from the Ambalangoda Zonal Education Director's office. However, this issue was extensively discussed at the coordination committee meeting held at the Balapitiya Divisional Secretariat. Ms. Anuruddhika Kalahewatta, the Ambalangoda Zonal Education Director, commented that the Balapitiya Divisional Education Director has taken steps to investigate the matter.

Ms. Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law, Chairperson of the Balapitiya Divisional Coordination Committee and Galle District Member of Parliament, pointed out that a district subcommittee has been appointed to identify and provide solutions for such dangerous locations in schools across the Galle District. She stated that if information about this unsafe drain at Kandegoda Vidyalaya had been reported to the relevant subcommittee, such a tragedy could have been prevented. Accordingly, the MP has instructed the Ambalangoda Zonal and Balapitiya Divisional Education Directors to conduct a formal investigation into this incident and submit a report.