By Sandasen Marasinghe

A little girl of eight years who was recommended heart surgery in April 2000, but was put on the waiting list and belatedly operated on March 27, 2002 died after surgery the same day.

In this tragic episode, S. R. A. Udeshika was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital on December 25, 2001 on receipt of a telegram from the hospital for the surgery. However, she had to spend another three months in the ward to be called for the operation.

She was a resident of Kosgahagoda, Boraluwewa, Bingiriya.

S. R. A. S. Ranasinghe the father of the deceased at the inquest held on Thursday said that he had two children of whom Shasini had been the elder.

She had been suffering from a heart disease since she was one month old. However she was as normal as other children and was in year three in school.

Shasini had been subjected to many medical investigations. Later, in April 2000 Ranasinghe had been asked to bring his daughter for surgery.

"Then I was told that I would be informed a date by telegram to call over for the operation. In November 2001 I received a telegram asking me to admit her on December 25 for the operation", he said.

She stayed for three months in ward 25 and was finally taken for surgery on March 27. In the evening at about 4 p.m. I was informed of the death of my daughter", Ranasinghe said. Additional City Coroner M. Ashroff Rumy returned a verdict of death due to natural causes.

The witness was produced by PC Indika Jayasekara (12267) of Bingiriya Police Station.