A dispute over potable water has claimed the life of a 17-year-old student at a rural school in Puttalam district.
A student allegedly involved in the incident has also been remanded, according to residents.
The tragedy happened last week at the Mahkumbukkadawala, Punapitiya Junior School in Andigama, Anamaduwa.
The dead student has been identified as Pathum Maduwantha. “He may be the first student to die in a water dispute at a school,” said a resident.
He said the students had been complaining about the water crisis for a long time.
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| A humble home now in mourning |
The victim’s father Nimal Gunasiri, 43, said Pathum was due to sit the OL exam this year. “All our hopes have been dashed.”
Gunasiri, a casual worker, said his eldest son dropped out of school to support Pathum’s studies.
School prefect Ruwan Chamara, who reportedly witnessed the incident, said the tragedy followed an argument between the students at the teachers’ quarters.
He said students usually collected water from a well near the school and filled it in containers. “As usual, we went to the quarters and found that there was not much water left for us,” he added.
The suspect then held Pathum by his neck and asked him to bring more water, Chamara said.
Chamara said Pathum was rushed to the Anamaduwa hospital after he collapsed during the encounter. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Anguished residents said the school did not have enough teachers in addition to the water crisis.
They pointed out that the students had gone to the playground during the science period as they did not have a teacher. |
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