- Son to be Born to Young Bank Staffer Bids Adieu with his Mother

You are here:

Son to be Born to Young Bank Staffer Bids Adieu with his Mother

Thursday, 29 May 2008

AS THE FUNERALS of nine DEHIWALA train blast victims take place in BANDARAGAMA, PANADURA, COLOMBO and elsewhere, the Police on information elicited from the suspect, nabbed earlier from the adjacent train compartment arrested twelve more, including two women on Wednesday (28).

One pregnant woman, a female bank staffer, a pharmacist, attached to COLOMBO South Teaching Hospital, a sales representative and six more passengers died in Monday (26) evening train blast at Dehiwala Railway Station when Tiger terrorists exploded a time bomb in the PANADURA bound train. The explosion wounded seventy-three more passengers who were returning home after office hours.

Ms. Mekala Niranjali Perera (25) of Ramukkana, Bandaragama met her fiancé, Menaka Wanniarachchi (30) of Beliatta on the train itself some one and half years ago while she was returning home after work at the National Lotteries Board. Both of them finally decided to tie the nuptial knots in December this year, but the brutal Tiger terrorism prevented it abruptly and mercilessly.

Mekala’s father, Ananda Sarathchandra Perera (54) working for Land Commission in Colombo used to go home in the same train after work, though she generally sits with her boy friend in a separate carriage before all of them get off at Panadura. With dreams leading to her red letter day, she has already contacted the bridal dresser for her wedding in December. All her dreams shattered following the terrorist blast.

Similarly, the eight-month pregnant Mrs. Lasanthi Chamindika Elvitigala of Sirimaluyana, Ratmalana, Bank official at the Fort HDFC bank was the mother of another daughter. The child to be born was a son. She too boarded the monster train on Monday and died in the explosion. Her daughter still continues to wait for her mother’s arrival home.

The pharmacist, Chithral Hemantha Perera (42) of Colombo South Teaching Hospital also fell victim to the LTTE bomb on the train. On that day he was to by a necklace for her sister who was to be married shortly. The entire hospital staff laments over his loss. He was a duty-conscious employee who was very popular among the hospital staff.

Another victim, Mrs. Kusum Ranjani Silva (54) of Pohoddaramulla, Wadduwa was serving Colombo Customs at the time of the untimely demise. She was to retire shortly but her family challengers forced her to continue her job for several more years.

Mrs. Priyani Chandralatha (45) who also died in the explosion was working at the Presidential Secretariat’s Foreign Service Section. She was a mother of two sons and lived in Kaldemulla, Moratuwa.

Many of those funerals are to take place in their respective areas today (28) and tomorrow (29). The government is to pay compensations for the victims and their families.

(Courtesy : Sri Lanka Army )

Last Updated ( Sunday, 04 January 2009 )