Student (17) a crocodile victim

A. W. Gunawardhana, Matara Central corr.

MATARA: A student Mohammed Hasim (17) and a resident of Godapitiya, Akuressa who was bathing in the Nilwala Ganga at Akuressa - behind the Godapitiya mosque - ferry with his mother was dragged away by a huge crocodile last Thursday evening (6th Sept.) and his body was not recovered even after two days, said the Akuressa Police.

A father of two children was a victim of a crocodile in the Akuressa area. The crocodiles in the Nilwala Ganga are terrorising the people in Akuressa and Matara.

The people of Matara say crocodiles are found basking in the sunlight on stones in the Fort area.

Within a short period of one and a half months crocodiles have dragged three bathers to death, said the Inquirer into Sudden Deaths Akuressa Ayurvedic Dr. D. W. Waidiyathilaka. Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has drawn attention to the threat posed to human lives by crocodiles in the Nilwala Ganga at Akuressa.

This follows recent reports of the loss of several human lives on account of the crocodile attacks.

Minister Alahapperuma has requested the Matara District Secretary Gaminie Jayasekara and Senior Superintendent of Police Matara Gaminie Wijetunga to recommend suitable measures to eradicate the threat posed by crocodiles to residents in Akuressa and Matara using the Nilwala Ganga for bathing and other daily errands.