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‘Spiritual-healing’ camp deaths due to aggravation of existing illnesses
Post-mortem inquests into the deaths of three persons who died while attending a so-called “spiritual healing” camp in Horowpathana, revealed the cause of death was due to the aggravation of already existing conditions.
Two of the deceased were pronounced dead on admission to the Horowpathana Divisional Hospital while a third person died at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.
The spiritual healing camp was held last week at the grounds of Ruwanweli Madhya Maha Vidyalaya in Horowpathana.
The event drew thousands of persons suffering from various aillments. Eighteen persons who attended the “spiritual healing” ceremony were admitted to hospital. Three of those admitted died.
The deceased were identified as P. Dinusha De Silva (39) of Maha Waskaduwa, Kalutara, A.M. Ranawaka (78) of Wanduramba, Galle and T.B. Wijethunga (52) of Kalawewa, Vijithapura.
At the postmortem examination held last week, Sanjeewa Sampath Suriyabandara (43) testifying at the inquiry said the deceased Mr. Ranawaka was his uncle. He added the deceased had been undergoing medical treatment for a heart condition he suffered.
Mr Suriyabandara said doctors had informed his uncle they could not operate on him due to his advanced age.
“We brought him to the spiritual healing camp in Horowpathana after hearing of the event.Before we could get him into the grounds however, his condition worsened.
“We rushed him to hospital but he was pronounced dead on admission. I have no suspicions regarding his death and accept that it occurred after his condition worsened,” Mr Suriyabandara said.
Waruna Minipahan Gunasekara (41), husband of Dinusha De Silva stated that his wife fell ill shortly after giving birth to their first child.
“After childbirth she could no longer speak or recognise anyone.
“Doctors were unable to diagnose her ailment. We treated her for 10 years but her condition remained unchanged. We took her to the healing camp after getting to know about it on the internet. But we entered the grounds as my wife suffered breathing difficulties. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. We have no suspicions regarding the cause of her death,” he said.
T.M. Susantha Kumara, testifying at the inquiry into the death of his father T.B. Wijethunga, said his father was a cancer patient.
“His condition worsened due to the congestion created by the presence of the large number of people present, as well as due to the intense heat.
“He was initially taken to the Horowpathana Hospital and subsequently transferred to the Anuradhapura Hospital, where he died,” the son said.