The unfortunate demise of the principal of Dambulla National School, who was killed by an undisciplined driver.

As a face as beautiful as a butterfly was disfigured and crushed under a pile of cruel metal, the world of two small children and thousands of students was darkened as Mr. Janaka Wijesinghe, the principal of Dambulla National School, closed his eyes forever.

This 38-year-old father of two lost his life in an extremely severe road accident that occurred on the Dambulla-Habarana main road in the Pelwehera area at midnight on the 18th. The accident happened when a luxury bus, traveling at high speed from Trincomalee towards Colombo, lost control, swerved into the opposite lane, and collided head-on with the car driven by the principal. The bus did not stop there; it ran over another car parked in front of a nearby hotel and crashed into a restaurant. Although the principal, who was trapped in the severely damaged vehicle for over 45 minutes, was rescued by the strenuous efforts of the locals and admitted to Dambulla Base Hospital, he had already passed away, as confirmed by Dambulla Headquarters Police Inspector Sugath Wijesinghe. The bus driver involved in the incident has been taken into police custody.

The final rites for the deceased principal's body took place on the 20th at the Dambulla National School playground. The body was brought to the school in a procession from his home in Inamaluwa in the morning. Thousands of people, including the Maha Sangha, schoolchildren, the teaching staff, and local residents, paid their last respects amidst tears. The lament of Mrs. Manoja Neelamani Wijesuriya, the beloved wife of the deceased principal and a teacher herself, as she embraced their two small children, moved the hearts of everyone present.

Expressing her deep sorrow over the loss of her husband, she said:

"My husband's biggest hope was to build a dormitory for the Bhikkhu and Bhikkhuni teachers serving at Dambulla National School, to observe 'Vas' (rainy season retreat), and to perform a grand 'Vas' meritorious deed. That cruel driver did not allow him to perform that noble meritorious deed."

Recalling the incident on the day of the accident, she also said through her tears:

"On the day of this accident, my husband attended a meritorious deed organized for the birthday of the Chief Incumbent of Dambulla Rajamaha Viharaya. It involved finding very poor children and annually granting scholarships to them for their education, along with the Chief Incumbent. Additionally, he told me that a new house built by the Chief Incumbent would be donated to someone in need. Every day, he would leave in the morning to do some meritorious deed. But in the evening, he called me and said he would finish his work and then go to the school before coming home. I also asked him to bring some groceries for the children. Later that night, I received this painful message."

"My little daughter and son still don't understand. Their life was with their father. And his life was with his children. He also loved me incredibly. Even though I am a teacher, he asked me to take five years off to be with the children. So, I stayed at home looking after the children."

As the principal's eldest daughter, Sanuli Wijesinghe, and his young son, Adi Wijesinghe, clung to their mother, wiping away her tears, it was an unbearable sorrow for everyone who attended the funeral. The value of this noble man, who dedicated himself to temples, schools, and social services in the area, was remembered and praised by local residents and representatives of various organizations.

She also made an important request with deep sorrow regarding undisciplined driving and social media behavior.

"I make one request to society: please pay urgent attention to undisciplined drivers. Do not let innocent human lives be destroyed on the main roads like this in the future. Also, I make a request to groups using social media. My husband's face, which was beautiful like a butterfly, was disfigured after the accident. Those photographs are circulating widely through social media. This is very difficult for the family to bear. I will somehow bear it, but as a teacher, I lovingly ask you not to continue this."

"The principal was not just a principal; he was someone who loved the children of the school as much as his own children. He always made plans to elevate Dambulla National School to a prominent place in the country and also discussed with teachers and principals to improve children and schools in the surrounding areas. He organized sports competitions and various events. He implemented the school rules correctly. He placed a beautiful Buddha statue in the school. However, today we had to face this reality; it's hard to bear the sorrow, but we will somehow face life."

Undisciplined driving on the main road has deprived two innocent young saplings of their father's shade, and as disfigured photographs circulate online, a helpless mother is left to face life alone with that cruel memory.