After the blast: The shock and despair

By Nadia Fazlulhaq and Isuri Kaviratne

It was peak hour on Monday evening when the claymore mine blast occurred in Ratmalana maiming and killing those who were passing by or on their way to the market.

Those who lost their kith and kin are still in shock over losing their loved ones so suddenly.“I looked for my husband among the injured little realizing that he was lying among the dead and I had passed by his body without even realizing it. When I realised that it was the body of my husband that was lying there I suddenly felt lost. I was later told that I had been unconscious for two hours and had been admitted to hospital,” said Sujatha Balachandra, wife of A. Balachandra.

The scene of the blast. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara and Saman Kariyawasam

According to Mrs. Balachandra, her husband was to fly abroad the next day and had gone to a boutique to do some last minute shopping. “I told him not to go out as he had an appointment with some Korean representatives at 6 p.m.,” she said with tear-filled eyes.

Mr. Balachandra (69) born in Maalamulla, Panadura started his career as a teacher and later held several high posts in the Administrative Service being the Post Master General, Chairman of the Ports Authority, Ministry Secretary of the Janasaviya, GA Ratnapura and Managing Director of Distilleries Corporation. At the time of his tragic death he was the Sri Lanka representative of SAMSUNG Corporation, Korea, playing a major role in the Greater Galle Water Project.

“In our 38 years of marriage, although it was a proposal, we were very much in love. He was a good husband and guide to our son. He was an honest and dedicated worker and devoted Buddhist. I find it difficult to bear his untimely death.”

On hearing about the blast, Mrs. Balachandra had stood by the gate and waited till her husband returned. Then her neighbour informed her that her husband’s car had been caught in the blast.

A few hours after the blast, Samantha Gunerathne (33) was battling for his life at the National Hospital with serious head injuries, while his wife Suneetha was carrying on with her daily chores thinking that her husband had gone on a hire. Samantha eventually lost his battle.

Samantha’s three-wheeler was usually parked at the Belek Kade junction although he and his wife lived in a rented house in Panadura with their 7-year-old son.

“Although we had lots of financial difficulties we led a happy married life. He was so happy when our boy was born as he always wanted a boy,” said Suneetha while hugging her son.

According to Chandrani Fernando her younger sister Irangani Fernando (53) lost her life on the way back from the market with her husband. Ayrangani’s husband P.H. Navaratne escaped death but suffered untold emotional and physical pain.

He had carried his wife and put her into an ambulance paying little heed to his own wounds. He was also admitted to the hospital and discharged on Thursday.

Unfortunately, he didn’t know that his wife had died from serious head injuries and had been inquiring about her continuously, even after getting home from hospital.

“My sister took care of both my mother and aunt who are both emotionally disturbed. They didn’t realise that my sister had died and kept asking whose body was lying in the house,” Chandrani said.

Irangani not only leaves behind her husband, parents and sister but also her daughter, Piumi (23) who is still in shock over her mother’s untimely death.

B.K. Weerasinghe, an employee of the Thusitha Bookshop, Ratmalana, was admitted to Kalubowila Hospital with wounds in the chest, legs and arms. He had to undergo surgery as well.

“I heard a sudden blast and felt a terrible pain searing through my body. I remember running towards the bookshop shouting in pain and some people bringing me to hospital in the bookshop van,” he said.

Damayanthi Weerasinghe is still in the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital after undergoing several operations, one that lasted for 8 hours. She suffered from injuries to the legs and stomach following the blast.

According Damayanthi’s sister Lilani Dasanayake, her sister had gone to buy bread from the bakery when she got caught in the blast.

“We are just praying that she will recover soon,” she said. Damayanthi had been making arrangements to go to Russia, for her only son’s graduation.