Hospital attendant recalls SWRD’s final moments

Disna Mudalige

Former President J R Jayewardene had willingly offered the hospital ward room in which he was obtaining residential treatment to former Prime Minister S W R D Bandaranaike when he was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital after being shot by an assassin on September 25, 1959 at his Rosmead Place residence. Late S W R D Bandaranaike’s 52nd death anniversary falls today.

Recollecting the past, retired hospital attendant Simiyel Ranamuka, 95, who attended to S W R D Bandaranaike in his last moments said that the hospital ward was full when Prime Minister Bandaranaike was admitted to the ward after undergoing urgent surgery, and later he was offered room number nine of the Merchant Ward where former President Jayewardene had been obtaining treatment.

Ranamuka recalled how late Bandaranaike appealed to the hospital staff to save his life during the operation. Ranamuka grieved that they could not save his life in spite of the enormous and tiresome efforts.

In reminiscences of the past incident, he said that Dr P R Anthonis performed the surgery assisted by two other doctors. Late Bandaranaike was given anaesthesia by Dr Umagiliya. Bandaranaike had temporarily stopped breathing soon after the anaesthesia, but, the doctors had been able to make him regain consciousness.

When he was admitted to the ward after the operation, Bandaranaike had spoken well.

He wanted to know why he was shot. However, Ranamuka had noticed that Bandaranaike changed to a yellowish colour the following morning. Bandaranaike had succumbed to his injuries around 6.30 am on September 26. Ranamuka also revealed that late Bandaranaike was planning to go overseas three days prior to his assassination. Retired hospital attendant Ranamuka, who is a father of five, is residing with one of his sons in Walpola, Ragama.