Two arrested over death of girl at Rakwana lodge

Published

3 months ago

July 6, 2023

editor

Two persons have been arrested by the police over the death of a young girl who was found dead inside a lodge at Panawala, Madampe in Rakwana.

The victim was a 22-year-old unmarried woman named Krishnan Pradeepa, a resident of Stubton Estate, Punchibarawatta in Rakwana.

A 23-year-old resident of Delvin Estate in Rakwana who is said to be the boyfriend of the deceased and the owner of the lodge were arrested by the Rakwana Police over the incident.

The deceased girl had gone to the lodge with her boyfriend at around 1.30 pm.

The two were staying at the lodge for a while and at around four in the evening, the boyfriend had gone out in his three-wheeler to buy food.

Upon return, he had found that the door of the room had been locked. Since there was no sound, he had broken into the room along with the owner.

The boyfriend has told the police that the girl was found hanging from the window of the bathroom with the salwar she was wearing.

The two suspects had untied her and taken her to the Kahawatta Base Hospital in a three-wheeler.

The cause of the girl’s death has not yet been ascertained.

The Magisterial inquiry and scene of crime investigation into the incident was conducted by Rakwana Acting Magistrate Sarath Wijegunawardena yesterday (05).

Police said the postmortem of the deceased girl is scheduled to be conducted at the Kahawatta Base Hospital.

Number of rabies deaths on the rise

Published

2 hours ago

September 21, 2023

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The Ministry of Health said that the number of people who have died from rabies has increased in the last few years.

Dr. Heshan Guruge, medical officer of the Anti-Rabies Division, said that the lack of knowledge about rabies as well as the bites of animals other than dogs have led to the increase in these deaths.

Dr. Guruge expressed these views while attending a discussion held yesterday (20) at the Health Promotion Bureau in conjunction with the World Rabies Day on September 28.

“When studying the human deaths that happened in the last few years due to rabies, we can see that a number of animals other than dogs have bit them. In some cases, it is not even possible to know who the animal is. Several people who had passed out after being drunk had been bitten by some animal. After a few days, the symptoms of rabies develop. Several such incidents were reported in the last two or three years. Proper first aid should be given in case of any animal bite. Wash the wound with soap and water. If you have alcohol at home, an iodine solution like betadine, surgical spirit, or an antiseptic liquid like hydrogen peroxide, you can use it. Then go to a hospital. If we do this, we can eliminate rabies from Sri Lanka,” he said.

Don’t get closer to new pets for two weeks

Meanwhile, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, community specialist of the Epidemiology Unit, said that 12 people have died due to rabies in 2023 so far.

He said that there is a risk of contracting rabies from the bites of all mammals.

The Anti-rabies Unit said that 25 to 30 people die from rabies every year.

The Epidemiology Unit requested the people not to get closer to pets such as dogs and cats for 14 days after bringing them home.

Arrangements should be made to vaccine the dogs against rabies before a period of four weeks has passed.

When bitten by a dog, the area should be washed and cleaned with soap for ten minutes, and after that it is important to seek medical treatment immediately.