Tyre let loose from stairs onto undergrad not definitively identified
As 21-year-old Pasindu Hirushan lies in intensive care at the National Hospital after a bizarre incident left him with head injuries at a “social” at the Sri Jayawardenapura University, questions emerged whether the police had found the tyre, which had caused injuries.
Police who visited the pavilion had found a used bus tyre that had reportedly been rolled on to Hirushan, but eyewitnesses say that it was a much larger heavy vehicle tyre that felled the student.
“I clearly identified that the tyre rolled on to Hirushan was different from a bus tyre because it was much larger than a bus tyre,’’ an eyewitness said.
Eyewitness accounts have been recorded by the police.
Hirushan, a student of St Peter’s College, Udugampola, a branch of St Peter’s in Colombo was not only studious, but also excelled in sports.
He obtained three As at the G.C.E. (A/L) examination and was admitted to degree program in business management at the university.
He entered the university in October last year with hopes of a bright future, but his and his family’s dreams now lie in ruins.
Bernard Augustine Silva, 62, the father of Hirushan, told the Sunday Times the injured boy is the youngest son in the three-member family.
“My son lost his mother when he was doing his A-Levels in 2018 and I brought up my children giving them a good education. My youngest son was good in his studies and sports,’’ he said.
“On March 7, we received a telephone call from the parents of another batch mate who is also from the same area and studied together at school. They told me that my son had met with an accident and was rushed to the National hospital.’’
He asked his son- in- law in Kadawatha to go to the hospital, after which he and another son followed.
Around 11.30 a.m. they saw their son being wheeled out of the operating theatre.
Hirushan’s friends too were at the hospital from where they were able to find out details of the incident.
Some 150 students had gathered at the pavilion of the SJP university where the second year students had organised a “social’’ to welcome the freshers after the period of ragging had ended. The “social” was due to officially end at 10.00 p.m, but had continued well beyond midnight. Security staff had ignored instructions to stop the event.
According to an eyewitness, some of the seniors had told Hirushan to bring some water for them. He had gone upstairs to fetch the water and was on his way.
“Hirushan had come down about 15 of the 25 steps when a tyre rolled down by one or more seniors struck him from the behind and he had fallen backwards,’’ a student who did not want to be named said.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Sudantha Liyanage, told the
Sunday Times that permission for the gathering had only been given until 10.00 p.m.
He said that in addition to the police investigation, an internal inquiry had begun.
Prof Liyanage said he said he had been informed that it was a bus tyre.
Meanwhile, six students allegedly involved in an incident of rolling a tyre on to Hirushan and critically injuring him have been remanded until March 23.
They were produced before the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Courts on Thursday.
The suspects are Dimuth Tathsasara Siriwardena, Srimal Amarasiri, Nalin Chathuranga, Lahiru Priyalal, Rangana Walisinghe and Vibuthi Kariyawasam.
Lakshan Silva, the elder brother of Hirushan, told the Sunday Times that a police team had recorded his statement and an officer from the Presidential Secretariat had spoken to him.
“Our hope is only that he recovers soon and that all necessary medical attention here or overseas is given to him and that he is able to continue his education,’’ he said.
According to hospital sources, Hirushan’s condition is improving, but further surgery is expected.