“I told my mother I was going to a friend’s birthday party, and that’s how my brother left. He called her a couple of times. Around 6:30 PM, his voice sounded strange when he called. He mentioned he had tonsillitis. About half an hour later, his friend called Mom and told her Danuka was having trouble, asking her to come to the hospital quickly. Alas, when we went, my brother had already left us. Now, the whole house is desolate without him,” Tharisha Dissanayake (25) said, weeping uncontrollably over the sudden, untimely demise of her only sibling.
Danuka Gangasara Dissanayake was a 21-year-old university student. An unfortunate bout of phlegm in his throat led to his admission to the Horana District General Hospital on the 2nd, but doctors could not save his life.
Danuka studied at Isipathana College, Colombo, since Grade 2. After passing the G.C.E. Ordinary Level exam with high marks, he chose the Mathematics stream for his Advanced Level studies.
Equally talented in Mathematics and Physics, he passed his Advanced Level exam with distinction and entered the Faculty of Applied Sciences at <internal-link:Sabaragamuwa University> (Sabaragamuwa Vishwa Vidyalaya), filling his parents’ lives with immense hope. Tragically, all those hopes have now been shattered.
Danuka associated with many friends and was a young man who constantly sang and enjoyed himself in their company. Everyone in the area loved him for his innocent nature.
Even though he started his university education just a week ago, he had already gathered many friends, a testament to his popularity among his peers.
Danuka had been staying at the university hostel for about a week. He came home on Friday night, the 31st, hoping to spend the two weekend holidays with his parents before returning to university. However, fate snatched him away, turning everything upside down.
Tharisha, who completed her degree at the <internal-link:University of Sri Jayewardenepura> (Jayawardhanapura Vishwavidyalaya) a month ago, was Danuka’s only sister. His mother and father also work in the non-academic staff of the same university.
Overcome with unbearable grief, his sister Tharisha shared her feelings:
“He only had me, and I only had him, so we were very close. He told me everything. Similarly, he deeply loved his mother and father. He never did anything dishonest. My brother excelled in studies, drama, swimming, and sports. He also loved to play the guitar. The house was always lively when he was around. He often made very delicious kavum (traditional Sri Lankan oil cake), getting help from Mom. He always enjoyed singing with his friends. Since the university started late, he had gone on trips and gotten to know many friends. His friends are all very good people.
My brother came home from the hostel on Friday night. He had a slight cold. We thought it might be due to the change in climate. He took medicine the next day, and it seemed to improve. There was a friend’s birthday party on the 2nd. He told Mom he would watch a movie and go to the party, and that’s how he left. He called Mom a few times. Around 6:30 PM, his voice sounded strange when he called. He said he had tonsillitis. About half an hour later, the friend called Mom, telling her Danuka was unwell and to come to the hospital quickly.
Alas, the whole house is now desolate without our brother. When they suddenly said my brother, who was lively and strong, had passed away, I did not believe it was true at all. So, I didn’t tell anyone about it until the morning. But the next day, I found out it was true. At that moment, I could not think straight or do anything.”
Danuka went to his best friend’s house in Gonapala to attend the birthday party. His friend was a first-year Engineering student at the <internal-link:University of Moratuwa> (Moratuwa Vishwavidyalaya).
The adults knew these children well, as they had been visiting each other’s homes for a long time. At Danuka’s request, his friend prepared a home remedy—a paste of ginger, lime juice, and garlic—for his phlegm condition.
Afterward, the phlegm came out, but Danuka found it difficult to speak. His friend had gone to take a photo with his mother and father when a few people in the house came and told them Danuka was unwell.
They quickly took him to a private hospital in Horana, where they were advised to take him to a larger hospital. As his friend helped him into the car to go to the hospital, Danuka told his friend he was struggling to breathe.
No one knew those were his last words.
The post-mortem examination of this young man was performed by Specialist Judicial Medical Officer Sandakan Waduge at the Horana District General Hospital. Horana Inquirer into Sudden Deaths, Sumedha Gunawardena, declared an open verdict.
It is heartbreaking that a valuable young man for the future society was lost when Danuka Gangasara was laid to rest, amidst a vast crowd who came to pay their last respects, drenching the entire area of Walmilla Junction, Kindelpitiya, Mahawatta in tears.
