Dr Samitha Samanmalie petition postponed for July 16

Jayantha DE SILVA

Plaintiff Dr Samitha Samanmalie, who is confined to a wheel chair as a result of injuries received when a roof collapsed on her at the MEDEX Exhibition which was held at the BMICH in 2008, sobbingly testified before District Court judge Dhammika Ganepola, the ordeal she was presently undergoing.

She is claiming a sum of Rs. 500 million as compensation from the management of the BMICH.

Cross examined by Attorney-at-Law M. R. Sivendra, who is appearing for the respondent the plaintiff Dr Samanmalie, said that a sum of Rs.20 million had been expended for her treatment in both Singapore and China.

At the time of the incident, she had been a third year medical undergraduate. On the day of the incident, a group of students had sought shelter from the rain in an enclosure when the roof had collapsed, injuring her.

A fund titled 'Help Samanmalie' had been set up. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, she was unable to remember what occurred.

Further cross examined by the counsel, she revealed that proceeds from the exhibition had been credited to the Medical Faculty.

Her family was unable to spend a big sum on her, while assistance came from various quarters.

Further hearing was postponed for July 16.