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Katuwapitiya child survivors still suffer 5 months after Easter Sunday attacks
Five months have passed since the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, yet people in Katuwapitiya still suffer the after effects of that terrible day.
About 10,000 people, belonging to 3400 families, live in the parish of Katuwapitiya. A 166 people, 45 of them children, died in church that Sunday.
Child survivors of the attacks are those who are most vulnerable.
They continue to suffer from depression, loneliness and various phobias, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle told The Sunday Times.
Dr. Fernandopulle, who represents the Katana electorate, observes that the children need more care, even though they are gradually recovering from the trauma.
“We’re planning to get some music therapists experienced in education and rehabilitation work, to help them,” she said adding that she is grateful to the many organisations that have helped people in this area.
Some adults too, are still haunted by depression, sleeplessness, nightmares, phobias and suicidal tendencies. Dr Fernandopulle mentioned that they are also eager for justice, and are angry at the government’s failure to bring to book those who could have taken immediate security measures to prevent the attacks.
She too supports the appeal made by Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith for the government to appoint an independent commission to investigate the attacks and ‘reveal the truth.’