by Mike Andree and Madura Ranwala
Duminda Silva MP
UPFA Parliamentarian Duminda Silva, who returned to the country early yesterday morning, was remanded till March 14 by the Colombo Magistrate, in connection with the killing of presidential advisor Baratha Lakshman Premachandra.
Silva, who was in Singapore for treatment for severe head wounds, received in the October 2011 Mulleriyawa shooting incident, which culminated in the death of Premachandra, returned to Sri Lanka, accompanied by a surgeon from the Mount Elizabeth hospital, Singapore, on an Emirates flight. He was taken out of the airport on a wheelchair and immediately admitted to the Nawaloka hospital for treatment.
The CID arrested him at around 10.00 a.m. and after taking his statement, informed Court that he was in police custody in hospital.
President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, representing Duminda Silva informed Court that his client had undergone emergency decompiessive craniotomy, where a substantial part of his skull, which was damaged, was removed, following the head injuries he received on October 8, 2001. Therefore he should not be exposed to unhygienic conditions as bacterial infections were easily possible and could effect the repaired skull defect which had still not recovered.
Counsel produced the medical reports issued by the Nawaloka hospital and Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore on his client’s condition.
The report from Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, issued under the signature of Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Goh stated: “Further to my medical reports of 16th July 2012 and 20th November 2012, Mr. Silva had to postpone his intended return to Sri Lanka in December due to ‘blackouts’ experienced by him. The advice and concerns stipulated in my earlier two reports will continue to apply unaltered.
He now intends to return to Sri Lanka with his parents in early March 2013, to attend to matters which cannot be postponed.
I need to emphasize that his physical appearance is not an indication of the brain trauma he has suffered and absolute care must be taken for at least another two to three years. Although his recovery has been satisfactory, patients with such penetrating head injuries may have unpredictable changes to their condition. Any adverse factors, stress, and the slightest impacts will not only reverse the progress that he has made, but will also be life threatening.
He should not be exposed to unhygienic conditions as bacterial infections are easily possible and may affect the repaired skull defect, which has still not recovered fully. It is preferable that a close relative of his be with him at all times for a few more months, just as when he was in Singapore. This has also contributed to his clinical progress.
He should take his medicines in a regular and timely manner, so as to avoid seizures, and should not undergo the trauma of incarceration.
The stress and trauma that he will undergo from air travel cannot be predicted and on arrival he should be transferred immediately to a fully equipped hospital and preferably’ be under the care of the doctors who attended to him earlier.
Mr. Silva requires further medical examinations and evaluations in late April 2013 and early May. These frequent follow-up medical visits will be necessary for the next few years.”
The report issued by the Nawaloka hospital and signed by Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne stated:”Medical Report regarding Mr. R. D. Silva.
The above patient had a head injury on 8-10-2011. He had extensive brain damage for which he had an emergency decompressive craniotomy where a substantial part of his skull which was damaged was removed.
He was bleeding from the major vessels of the brain for which haemostasis was achieved with difficulty and fragments of bone and debris were removed.
The shrapnel which was embedded deep in the brain substance was not removed. He was taken to Singapore for rehabilitation.
Cranioplasty with prefabricated implant costromesh was utilised to repair the skull deficit.
Due to the shrapnel and ostromesh and his conditions, he should not be exposed to unhygienic conditions as bacterial infections are easily possible and may effect the repaired skull defect which has still not recovered fully, as reiterated by Dr. Goh, Consultant Neuro Surgeon.
He requires further continued care in a fully equipped hospital to evaluate ongoing convulsions, headache, dizziness, vertigo and blurred vision. He should be devoid of stress.
The valpou acid level remains high due to the high levels of anhepilephes required to control convulsions.
The levels will require monitoring by close supervision & personal attention.”
The Magistrate, considering the accused’s condition, visited the hospital and handed Silva over to the prison guards.
Presidential advisor Baratha Lakshman Premachandra and three other were killed, while Duminda Silva received serious head injuries, during the October 8, 2011 shoot out between two rival factions representing the UPFA.
The case was heard for over one year in the absence of Duminda Silva. The Court on February 19, 2013 ordered the CID to file murder charges against 13 suspects including MP Silva on the advice of the Attorney General.
COURTESY:THE ISLAND