News

VTA officer died in police custody, due to Blunt Force Trauma!

Published

4 months ago

June 7, 2023

editor

The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (6) ruled that the cause of death of the Assistant Manager of the Vocational Training Authority, who died while in custody of the Police Narcotic Bureau, was Blunt Force Trauma.

Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama while delivering the order on the postmortem, ordered for the immediate arrest of those responsible for the death.

On the 10th of January 2023, Samantha Preethi Kumara, an Assistant Manager at the Vocational Training Authority in Narahenpita had visited a restaurant with a friend to have lunch.

Samantha Preethi Kumara had decided to walk back to his office after purchasing his meal, while his friend decided to stay back and enjoy lunch at the restaurant.

It was during his way back to office, that Samantha Preethi Kumara was taken away by a group that arrived in a jeep.

Thereafter, relatives were informed that his lifeless body was lying at the Colombo National Hospital.

On that day, when News 1st contacted the Police Spokesperson, SSP Nihal Thalduwa, he said that Samantha Preethi Kumara was picked up by the police suspected of being a leading player in a drug network that was under investigation.

The Police Spokesperson went on to note that the detectives from the Police Narcotic Bureau had interrogated the suspects with regard to those above him in the drug network, and during the course of the inquiry the suspect had smashed a bottle in half, and attacked the police officer.

However, in court on Tuesday (6) it was revealed that Samantha Preethi Kumara died as a result of bleeding due to the assault.

(newsfirst.lk)

News

Number of rabies deaths on the rise

Published

1 hour ago

September 21, 2023

editor

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.