Rescuing a life under any circumstances is indeed a heroic deed. It becomes more so when it relates to a life of a little girl. It was unbelievable but it happened close to Pamankada with a miraculous mediation of a soldier who never thought twice about himself.
This soldier-driver, Lance Corporal D.B.J.K. Jayalath of 1 Field Engineer Regiment of Corps of Engineers who lives in Pamankada area was on his way to the Army camp on Saturday (11) to assume duties as the driver of Brigadier Dhammika Weerasekara’s staff vehicle when he suddenly spotted a tiny little girl suddenly rolling into the stinking, germ-infested waterway close to the Pamankada bridge.
The area, congested with slums along the banks of the canal is thickly populated but nobody appeared noticing the fall of this little girl into the contaminated water. Making matters further worse, a toddler who happened to be from the same family was advancing to the very edge of the water, screaming ‘akka akka’ as the said little girl began submerging in canal water.
The Army soldier, Jayalath wasted no time and realized the gravity of the situation. This brave soldier, touched very much by the would-be tragedy, swept into action and jumped into the stagnant water which no ordinary man would ever dare think of getting even a splash of this stinking water, let alone jumping into it for rescue of a life.
Alerted by what was going on and the soldier’s shouting, people began to throng the banks by then as the soldier swam across and pulled the girl from the deep mud where she was stuck in and took her away. This five-year old young life would have been lost had it not been the timely action of this brave soldier who did not care for his own safety or sanitary status, following the jump.
Parents and hundreds of residents, witnessing the heroic deed, were full of praise to the soldier whose presence of mind and great dedication saved the life of this tiny girl. No wonder, the country should be proud of such brave soldiers who set such examples of bravery.
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