A humanitarian experience

Premasara EPASINGHE

I have seen on television how our Army, Air Force, Navy, Police officers, doctors and nurses looked after our own innocent Tamil brothers and sisters, their children who have been the unfortunate victims of the blood thirsty ruthless LTTE cadres led by Prabhakaran. The above personnel are Good Samaritans.

Today, I saw how well our humane doctors, nurses and the hospital support staff perform their functions way beyond their call of Duty. Indeed, I felt proud how these fellow human beings function with great sympathy as if they were treating their own kith and kin.

Date - Saturday, March 7, 2009.

Place - Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo, Ward 10.

Doctor Nandadeva Jayatilleke, Superintendent of Police Medical Officer in charge of Police Hospital Kundasale, Kandy, my nephew, gave me a call and informed, his son Harindu, while playing in an Under 13 International Schools Cricket Tournament in Colombo, sustained an injury to his leg and he underwent surgery at Lady Ridgeway Hospital and is warded at Ward Number 10.

My wife and I rushed to the hospital to see our Grand Nephew. In the adjoining bed there was a weak, child about two and a half years of age by the name Radhan, a victim of a recent brutal LTTE attack in Mullaitivu. He had sustained a very serious leg injury which needed immediate surgery. This child who underwent surgery was howling in pain. This was an unbearable sight for anyone.

I spoke to his father Ravindran, a farmer from Mullaitivu in Tamil and asked him what happened? In tears he started relating his tragic story.

"Aiyya! we have undergone enough suffering at the hands of the LTTE for many years. Your kind hearted Army Personnel rushed to our rescue as if they came from heaven. About fifteen of us including my wife and daughter were trying to leave Mullaitivu, to proceed to a safe area and were about to alight a Army Red Cross vehicle, when we came under heavy fire from the LTTE. My beloved wife got hit by a bullet and fell dead on the spot. (For a moment poor farmer Ravindran could not control his feelings, took a deep breath, raised his hands to the sky and cursed Prabhakaran and started crying).

My seven year daughter also sustained minor injuries. She is now in a refugee camp. As my son had a serious leg injury, he was transferred to Colombo in an ambulance, day and night I am by the bedside of my son, he is all the time asking for Amma, how can I give an answer to that question. Aiyya, your doctors, nurses, all other staff at the LRH are so kind and sympathic, they look after my son very well, I am ever grateful to all of them."

The basket of fruits and the packet of biscuits we took for Harindu, we gave it to innocent Radhan. He was happy and smiled. With difficulty he opened the packet of biscuits and started munching a few biscuits at once.

It was one of the most pathetic sights we have seen. We gave his poor heart broken father a substantial sum of money for his expenses, tears began to roll down his cheeks. This may be one incident out of many thousands who lost their entire future due to this brutal and insensitive person Prabhakaran.

When I spoke to the doctors and other staff members of the ward they told me there are many Tamil children hospitalised in other wards for similar treatment sustained in recent LTTE attacks.

We must be really grateful to the Government for all the facilities and the humanitarian facilities they provide for these unfortunate victims of Prabhakaran.

I congratulate and pay my humble respects to all the Medical men and women in this country and their support staff in looking after with much care our own Tamil brothers and sisters, their sons and daughters. It is indeed a meritorious act.

When I saw these dedicated committed medical personnel at Ward 10, LRH Colombo, it reminded me and age old saying.

Greatness means to wear the crown of responsibility, whilst remaining seated on the throne of humility.