From Neminda Samarajeewa
The youth who was mauled by lions when he jumped into their den at the Dehiwala zoo says that he will never do it again as the animals spared his life.

‘I regret that the lions didn’t eat me up. But, I won’t offer my life to them again’, Gamini Sarath Rajakaruna (21) said in an interview with the ‘Sunday Island’.

A resident of Balangoda, he was seriously injured when the lions pounced on him after he jumped into their den. He was earlier in the Intensive Care Unit of the Kalubowila hospital where he underwent surgery. As his condition has improved, he has now been moved to a normal ward.

A notice debarring visitors has been put up near his hospital bed. Only his brother is permitted to see him. The hospital authorities earlier had a difficult time keeping curious visitors away as the episode dubbed ‘lion boy’ received wide media publicity.

‘After I recover completely I intend doing a small job, even as a peon in some institution’, he said.