Railways General Manager H.M.K.W. Bandara passed away tragically yesterday morning (23) while staying at the railway bungalow in Anuradhapura.
Police reported that a group of railway engineers including the General Manager, were staying at a railway bungalow located near the East Nuwaragam Palatha Divisional Secretariat on Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha in Anuradhapura.
On the day of the incident (23), this group of engineers, including the General Manager, was scheduled to participate in a series of special programmes observing the modernisation works at the Galgamuwa, Thalawa, Anuradhapura and Mihinthale stations. These events were to be held with the participation of Mass Media, Transport and Highways Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana.
Railway Chief Engineer E.M.S.T.K. Priyantha Deegala reported that three engineers were staying in two rooms of the railway bungalow, and the Railway General Manager was staying alone in another room.
According to Police, the following morning (23) around 6.30 am, a bungalow employee knocked on the General Manager’s door to serve morning tea. Receiving no response, the group of engineers knocked again around 7 am and, after several unsuccessful attempts to contact him via mobile phone, they forcibly opened the door. They found the General Manager lying next to the bed with his hands at his sides and bleeding from the face, as recorded in the statements by Chief Engineer Priyantha Deegala.
It was further stated that the General Manager was transported to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital by ambulance, following assessments by individuals from nearby railway quarters.
The Railway Tourist Bungalow, where the Railways General Manager was staying, was inspected by a team of Police Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) officers later that morning.
Chief Inspector W.A.S. Wickramarachchi, Sub Inspector Dissanayake, and Police Sergeant Nihal (56678) of the Anuradhapura Headquarters Police conducted investigations.
Following the autopsy, the body was taken to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital mortuary to determine the cause of death.
His remains will be kept at the Railways Headquarters today from 9 am to 12 pm for the railway workers and the public to pay respects and then will be taken to the Raymond funeral parlour in Borella. The last rites will be performed at the Borella cemetery on Thursday at 4 pm.
Engineer Bandara who is a senior officer of the Railway Department took over as General Manager of Railways on November 4 last year.
He is a past student of the Matale Science College and a graduate of Civil Engineering from the Peradeniya University. He has a Post Graduate qualifications from the University of Moratuwa and was also a chartered member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Engineering.
He joined the Sri Lanka Railways as an Assistant District Engineer in 1996 and then worked as a District Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, Chief Engineer (Roads and Industries) and Additional General Manager (Infrastructure) for 27 years.
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