Following the tragic death of a student at Kelaniya University’s Kannangara dormitory, strong accusations have emerged against the university’s administration, prompting the appointment of a three-member committee to investigate the incident and provide a report within a week.
The deceased student, a resident of Monaragala, was a Geography Department student in the Faculty of Arts, preparing for the graduation ceremony. Identified as Niroshan Lakmal, he passed away due to a sudden illness.
The incident unfolded when Niroshan suddenly developed epilepsy and fainted around 10:00 PM on Sunday (24). Fellow students attempted to seek assistance by contacting the administrative officer of the hostel for a vehicle or an ambulance, but their efforts were in vain as there was no response. Subsequently, the students transported the ailing student to Kiribathgoda hospital in a threewheeler, where doctors pronounced him dead. Medical professionals expressed that prompt hospitalization could have potentially saved his life.
In response to the student body’s grievances, the university administration faced protests as students barricaded the main gates, alleging the administration’s responsibility for the student’s demise. University lecturers and non-academic staff were impeded from entering the premises, resulting in disruptions.
University Vice-Chancellor Senior Professor Nilanthida Silva addressed the concerns by announcing the formation of a three-member committee tasked with investigating the incident and furnishing a report within a week.
This unfortunate incident follows another recent death last Thursday (21), where a student from the Faculty of Arts in the Sinhala Department, Inoka Dissanayake, from Divulapalassa area passed away due to illness. The successive deaths have heightened concerns within the university community, prompting calls for thorough investigations and accountability measures.
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