He just went home to his pregnant wife and little son

The lisping chatter over his mobile during off- duty hours always ended with: Mata akuru liyanna board ekak genalla denna

( Bring me a board to write the alphabet).

It was his 4 ½ - year- old putha

( son) in Pulasthigama ( off the Polonnaruwa-Somawathiya Road, 20 kms from Polonnaruwa), whom he had not seen for 40 days as he was on duty at the Welisara navy camp, Ragama, in these difficult times of COVID-19.

When he did get leave on April 18, A.G.M. Mahes Kumara headed for home, as looking forward to his return was not only his little son but also his wife who is expecting their second baby in July.

That day, transport was difficult, says Kumara when the Sunday

Times contacts him at the Welikanda Base Hospital where he has been since he was diagnosed with COVID-19. When asked how he got the virus, he says he is puzzled as he was on duty within the camp.

He journeyed towards Kandy, got off midway and then hitched lifts from vehicles, finally walking three kilometres to reach home and his loved ones. All the while he wore his face-mask.

As there was curfew on April 19, he toiled in the kumbura ( fields), while his boy watched from the

niyara from morning till dusk, reluctant to let him out of his sight. On the 20th, as there was hardly anything to eat in the house, he took his little boy to the

pola andto get him a haircut and also to look for the white board which had been on his mind, but to no avail. The shops were closed.

When asked how his family had been during the curfew, he says they were alright, buying a few vegetables from the lorries passing by and managing with the haal and pol ( rice and coconuts) they got from their fields.

On the evening of the 20th, Kumara felt feverish and even though he thought it was due to his labours in the field under the scorching sun, he called 1390. He was advised to take paracetamol and if the fever did not settle the next morning, go to hospital.

Early morning, Kumara wearing a face- mask went to the Pulasthigama Hospital and from a distance, through the window, told the health staff who were in protective gear, about his illness. Later that day he was sent to the Polonnaruwa Hospital by ambulance and when he tested positive he was transferred to Welikanda on the 21st.

Kumara had immediately given all the details about his movements and the army along with the MOH staff had taken his family and relatives to the quarantine centres at Meeyankulam and Panichchankerni.

When asked about COVID-19, he says he only had fever but no body aches and pains. He developed a phlegmy cough on the 22nd, otherwise wena mokuth ne ( there was nothing else).

Kumara’s voice is tinged with sadness as he dwells on the vituperative outbursts of some people against armed forces personnel who are committed to doing their duty by the country, but is very grateful and appreciative of the immense support showered by the navy on his family.

“The navy is also like my own family and they are looking out for me. They have taken a lot of stuff for my wife and son,” he adds.