BODYEXHUMEDFORPOST MORTEMONCOURTORDERS

The body of a woman buried eight days ago in Narangastenna cemetery in Maliyadda was exhumed by Kandeketiya police in the presence of Badulla Magistrate Y.R.B Nelumdeniya and JMO Badulla general hospital Dr. K.m.kudagama.

The deceased W.M Nandawathie (45), mother of three children, was a resident of Maliyadda in Kandeketiya. She had been ailing for about a month and died at home. The relatives who explained their failure to provide her medical treatment had told police that her sister who was possessed by a spirit had threatened that the entire family would be destroyed if the patient was admitted to hospital.

A government medical officer examined the patient on information from the public that the relatives were preparing to bury the woman alive. However the doctor declared her dead and stated that her death may have occurred after placing her

The relatives who explained their failure to provide her medical treatment had told police that her sister who was possessed by a spirit had threatened that the entire family would be destroyed if the patient was admitted to hospital.

in the coffin.

Coroner of the Badulla General Hospital and the Kandeketiya Division R.m.seneviratne who held the inquest reserved the verdict and made a report to Badulla Magistrate and the latter ordered to exhume and refer the body for postmortem examination.

The Magistrate, his staff, the JMO and OIC Kandeketiya police SI H.M.U Herath made a long trek through hard terrain to reach the burial ground in Maliyadda. The police carried the body through the jungle when the villagers requested police not to carry it through the village. Members of the deceased family were ordered to appear in court on 13th February, 2012.