The father from Galenbindunuwewa whose family committed suicide on his daughter's birthday.

Shaking the entire Anuradhapura, a deeply tragic news, enough to churn human hearts, was heard yesterday morning from Galenbindunuwewa, Nuwaragam Kolaniya area. As the final outcome of a family dispute escalating, an entire family was destroyed, bringing tears to the eyes of those who witnessed it.

It is even difficult to comprehend whether it is a cruel twist of fate that a father, who should have been dedicated to the safety of his children, caused his own blood-born children and beloved wife to perish in flames. This heinous crime took place at a house located in the Pandikaramaduwa area, which falls under the Galenbindunuwewa police division. The crime was committed yesterday around 2:00 AM by a 43-year-old man named Saman Anuruddha Pradeeppriya, a carpenter, who poured a flammable liquid like petrol into the room where his wife, children, and mother-in-law were sleeping and set it on fire.

This incident becomes even more heartbreaking because the tragedy occurred on the birthday of the 13-year-old daughter who fell victim. The birthday of the deceased 13-year-old daughter, Dimalka Jayashani, was on the day before the incident, January 5th. The suspect father, claiming it was to celebrate his youngest daughter's birthday, arrived at his wife's mother's house in Pandikaramaduwa with cakes and gifts, showing great affection. Initial police investigations have revealed that he celebrated the birthday with his children and wife, cut the cake, and was happy. However, that happiness turned to ashes in an instant due to the brutal plan that was executed in the father's mind at the end of the birthday party. The suspect, who pretended to leave the house saying he was going back, had not actually left the premises. Police suspect that he kept the lorry he arrived in parked near the house and waited until the residents went to sleep.

After midnight, when the residents were in a deep sleep, the suspect acted, climbing onto the roof of the lorry parked near the house and entering the upper floor of the two-story house through it. He then found the room where his wife, two daughters, and mother-in-law were sleeping, poured a flammable liquid into it, and set it on fire. The fire quickly spread, turning the entire room into an inferno, and those inside had no chance to escape. Due to severe burn injuries caused by the fire, Saman Anuruddha Pradeeppriya, who set the fire, and the 13-year-old daughter Dimalka Jayashani, whose birthday was celebrated, died on the spot. The severely injured wife, 36-year-old Mrs. Prabhasha Sandamali Jayaratne, passed away after being hospitalized.

Police investigations have confirmed that long-standing family disputes within this family were the primary cause of this destruction. The suspect, who worked as a carpenter, frequently came home drunk, argued with his wife, and habitually assaulted her and the children. When this situation became unbearable, the wife filed several complaints with the police, and on numerous occasions, the police intervened, reconciled both parties, and sent them back home. However, about two months ago, after a severe assault by her husband, the wife left her home in Karawakkulama, Galenbindunuwewa, with her three children and moved to her mother's house in Pandikaramaduwa. Police suspect that the husband, who was angry and suspicious about his wife living separately with the children, might have planned this crime.

At the time the fire broke out, the 20-year-old eldest son, Tharusha Dilhan, was in another room, and as soon as he realized the fire was spreading, he made a desperate effort to save his mother and sisters. It is reported that he also sustained severe burn injuries while attempting to rescue his family members by jumping into the inferno. 20-year-old Tharusha Dilhan, 15-year-old daughter Nisha Iduli, and the wife's mother, 66-year-old retired teacher Mrs. P. Kamalawathi, were hospitalized with severe injuries for treatment. They were first admitted to Huruluwewa Divisional Hospital and later transferred to Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for further treatment. Unfortunately, hospital sources confirm that the wife's mother, who was receiving treatment in the intensive care unit, also later succumbed to her injuries.

The tragedy of yet another family shattered by drunkenness and misunderstanding unfolds before society in a very painful way. Although the father and two sons lived separately in the Karawakkulama house, and the mother and two daughters lived in the grandmother's house, their attempt to come together and be happy, even for a special occasion like a child's birthday, ultimately opened the door to death. It is the cruelest twist of fate that the daughter, who cut the cake and smiled on her birthday, had to become a burnt body by the time the sun rose the next day. It is an utterly unacceptable situation that the very father who brought gifts became an executioner and sacrificed his children.

The Judicial Medical Officer of Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital and the Magistrate who arrived at the scene conducted preliminary on-site investigations. Further investigations are underway under the supervision of the Galenbindunuwewa Police and the Horowpathana Assistant Superintendent of Police. This incident once again highlights how many innocent lives are lost to society due to the lack of a proper mechanism or patience to resolve family disputes. Anyone looking at the house destroyed by the fire can see that not only the brick walls but also the humanity and paternal love that once existed there have turned to ashes. Doctors are working tirelessly to save the lives of the hospitalized children and grandmother, and it feels as if even the wind blowing from Anuradhapura carries the sorrow of this unfortunate family. This incident, where a father's sudden anger and hatred plunged the future of innocent children into darkness, serves as a lesson for the entire country.