President wants students tested before sports events: Marathon deaths

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

President Mahinda Rajapaksa advised Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena to take measures to devise a methodology to check on physical fitness and the health condition of students participating in sports events. The President made the directive following the recent incidents of deaths of schoolchildren while taking part in athletic events, especially marathons. President Rajapaksa also advised the Education Minister to obtain the assistance of several other ministries related to sports and health.

Accordingly, the Sports Ministry Medical Unit and Health Ministry will be directly involved in formulating the physical fitness checking methodology. Students will be checked by a doctor or a medical panel prior to taking part in sports events.

Two female students from Chilaw and Mawanella died while participating in school sport events.

A 17 - year - old girl collapsed and died while participating in a mini - marathon at her school’s inter house sport meet in Mawanella on Tuesday. The victim, Anusha Kumari was a grade 13 Commerce student of Aranayake Rivisanda Central College. The incident occurred while she was taking part in the 5,000 metre race.

She was rushed to Mawanella Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. R D Kaushalya, 18, collapsed and died near the Chilaw town while participating in a school cross country race on January 30. She was an Arts student at Ananda National School, Chilaw. In another incident related to sports, a 13 - year - old schoolgirl died while practising for a zonal sports meet on February 18.

Anjali Isurika, a student of Gnaneswara Maha Vidyalaya, Villorawatte, Moratuwa. collapsed after complaining of a stomach ache during sport practices.