Minister Wijesekera out of ICU

Rasika Somarathna

Posts and Telecommunications Minister, Mahinda Wijesekera who sustained head injuries in the suicide bomb attack in Akuressa on March 10, has been taken out of the Intensive Care Unit after making steady progress, Colombo National Hospital Director, Dr. Hector Weerasinghe said yesterday. "However he remains in the hospital, with specialists predicting at least a further two month stay," Dr. Weerasinghe added.

He noted that in the case of serious head injuries, like the one Minister Wijesekera had suffered, close scrutiny was needed over a period of time with the recovery process being lengthy.

However Minister Wijesekera has made steady progress, he added.

Minister Wijesekera, 66, suffered serious head injuries in the LTTE suicide attack at the National Milad-Un-Nabi festival at the Jumma Mosque in Akuressa. He was later airlifted to Colombo where he underwent a four hour surgery.

Fifteen people were killed and another 46 sustained injuries in the LTTE attack.