Welfare tour ends in tragedy
A pathetic incident which occurred during an annual picnic/pilgrimage tour arranged by a village welfare society where a young boy drowned in Parakrama Samudraya in the presence of his family members and other participants has brought great sorrow to the residents of Yattawala in Katugastota .
The unfortunate youth was Jayawardena Arachchilage Dananjaya Jayawardena a 14-year-old, year nine student of Dharmaraja College in Kandy.
This tragedy occurred when the picnic group which set off on23rd August had stopped at the Parakrama Samudraya bund at canal 2 near a Nuga tree for refreshment and lunch after visiting Medirigiriya, Somawathiya and Polonnaruwa for religious activities.
The pilgrimage group comprised of about 70 members including around twenty youths, and among them were Dananjaya, his parents and his younger brother.
Giving evidence before the inquest held by the Polonnaruwa municipal inquirer into sudden deaths, L.M. Chaminda Lakmalal JP, at the Polonnaruwa General Hospital, Danajaya’s father Jayawardenaarachchilage Senaka Jayawardena said the welfare society secretary had requested the parents to remain cautious about the children when they wanted to bathe.
He said his two sons and their friend Sagara went into the tank first. “The water was up to the level of their chest and we called out to them to proceed towards the shallow water. But suddenly
The welfare society secretary had requested the parents to remain cautious about the children when they wanted to bathe
we saw them struggling and drowning in the water. Meanwhile we noticed our younger son raising his hands above the water and we hurried into the water and rescued him and Sagara. We continued fighting desperately within the fearful waters in search of my elder son and suddenly I felt faintish.”
He later realised that his elder son was found and the three boys were rushed to the hospital.
At the hospital we were told that my elder son was dead.
JMO A.P.D. Bandara held the autopsy and the inquirer into sudden deaths said that the death was due to drowning.
PC 6315 of Polonnaruwa police led the evidence at the inquest.