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Law student dies in hospital a week after army truck hit his bike
View(s):A second year law student who was hit by an army truck died at the Incentive Care Unit of the National Hospital after undergoing treatment for a week, a coroner’s court was told. The student, Ranasinaghe Arrachchilage Don Hasitha Buddila (27) from Ihala Imbulgoda, Gampaha, was returning home on a motorcycle on May 5, after picking up his sister from her work place at Imbulgoda when close to Kothalawala junction an army truck hit them from behind.
The brother and sister who both sustained injuries had been admitted to Gampaha Hospital by a monk who was passing by at that time.
Eranga (24), the sister of the deceased told court that she had fallen unconscious following the accident and regained consciousness only in the hospital. Judicial Medical officer Dr W.A.C Lakmali who conducted the post mortem inquiry said death was due to excessive bleeding, injuries to the head, skull and spinal cord.
Colombo City coroner Iresha Deshani Samaraweera also said death was due to serious injuries sustained in the head and spinal cord.
Yakkala Police said that from their findings they believe the truck had been going at a speed of over 50 kmph. They also said that the driver of the military truck Parabugedara Samantha Priyalal (33) was produced before the Gampaha additional magistrate who remanded him for 14 days and subsequently granted bail on May 18. He was also ordered to pay Rs 25,000 on compassionate grounds to the sister of the victim.
The magisterial case will be taken up on June 18.