Soldiers turn good samaritans!

COLOMBO: An incident that portrayed humanity was reported from Welikanda, when soldiers on duty at the Rideethenna roadblock provided all basic requirements for a mother delivering a baby on Friday evening.

On seeing the pregnant Tamil woman Latha who arrived in Rideethenna government-controlled areas leaving her homestead in Vakarai uncleared areas with several other villagers and was about to give birth to a child, women soldiers on duty near the checkpoint attended to her immediately.

Meanwhile, troops were able to get the assistance of two male nurses travelling in a Health Department vehicle to ensure a safe delivery of the child at the checkpoint.

Later, mother and newly born son were despatched to Polonnaruwa Hospital in an Army vehicle with a lady officer and a few women soldiers in attendance.

It was later learnt that LTTE terrorists had blocked their way and harassed them forcing to stay back. However, her husband, had to depart from his pregnant wife and secretly enter the cleared areas earlier. He is presently living at Valaichchenai.

- Sri Lanka Army Website.