This was an incident occurred on Sunday, the 3rd February 2008 about 2.11p.m opposite the cafeteria near passengers exit gate in the platform there of the Colombo Fort Railway Station. Fifteen (15) people died and 20 people sustained serious injuries and about 105 people sustained different types of injuries because of blasting of a bomb by a woman suicide bomber, who had tied the bomb in her person. A police sergeant in civil at the time, who was suspicious of the movements of the woman who later blasted the bomb, called her to a side when she was approaching the exit gate and tried to check her. Then she blasted tied to her person, killing the said police officer and several others and causing injuries to many in this incident.

Due the result of this blast, young sportsmen being the students of D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya and their instructor and the daughter of a blind couple dining at the cafeteria and a large number of others lost their live and many others sustained injuries. Further, a compartment of a train stationed there bound for Rambukkana, the trade cubicle and several glass panels of windows and doors had suffered damages. The Railway Department too suffered damages to the tune of several hundred thousands. The head of the suicide bomber had severed from the body and was found lying about 15 feet away from the site of the incident. The police had found the identity card there with on bogus name and address in Vavuniya. The bodies of those who had died and those who had seriously injured and stamp of bodies of some were strewn all over in a pool of blood. Police investigations are underway to identify the suicide bomber.

On receipt of the said call, all of us who were at home went to the hospital. There we came to know that he had been taken to the operation theater, and that a large number of people had died by the bomb explosion. We stayed near the operation theater till 12 mid night with the hope that my son would survive, and then we came to know that he had succumbed to his injuries.

Later we came to know that a large number of persons had been killed and equally a large number had sustained injuries by a bomb explosion triggered by a woman suicide bomber. This is only a one single incident of the gruesome terrorism in the country fro the last several decades. I strongly believe without my doubt that this was a heinous act of LTTE Tamil Tiger terrorists.

The died daughter studied in year 7 in the Raddolugama Sri Pannananda National School. I came to know that LTTE Tamil Tiger terrorists had exploded this bomb and thereby a large number of students had died and an equal number had sustained injuries. Also it was heard that the bomb has exploded 15-20 feet away from the cafeteria where we had our meals. The damage caused to us by the bomb is beyond description.

Kolitha was part of the D S Senanayaka School Base Ball Team. On 3rd Februry 2008 at 2.10 p.m 8 of the boys of D S S Baseball Team including my son had been reached the Colombo Fort Railway Station by train from Kandy. They had participated at the two day Baseball Tournament at Kandy. Soon after they reached to the Station the boys were to their homes. At this point a female LTTE suicide bomber who had just been detected headed in their direction and blew herself up. In this terrorist attack 08 boys from the D S Senanayaka Baseball Team including my son lost their lives.

This attack has devastated our whole family. It has been very damaging to his twin brother Kosala Kumara Mahamudalige. Both of them were studying at the D S Senanayake College from Year 1 – 13. My sons, Kolitha and Kosala both were preparing for the
G C E (A/L) Exam in August 2008. Of the two, Kolitha showed the most promise both in studies and in sports and his violent death as a victim of terrorism means that a lot of hops and dreams for his future were shattered. One of these dreams was to become part of Sri Lanka’s National Baseball team.

The day of 03rd February 2008 is very tragic and unforgettable day for our family.
I can’t describe the extent to which my family including my surviving son, Kosala are suffering since the attack took place. We cannot erase our son and the 19 years he spent with us from our memory. As parents we never ever can get away from this sorrow. It is very difficult to bear this type of a tragedy and I wished it wouldn’t happen to any parents in the world.

I am particularly very worried about how this will affect Kosala who was very close to him as his twin. He has especially suffered from the loss of his brother and now he has become very quiet and rarely do we see a smile on his face.

We are encouraging him to study in despite the difficulties of putting his mind to the task. We feel extremely sorry for him and are not pushing him too hard. My husband and myself have also suffered considerable stress as a result and our health, wealth and peace of mind have been badly affected. What the ruthless attack of the LTTE did was destroy and damage two innocent young lives and brought us everlasting sorrow.

Padmini Mahamudalige (Mother)
Gamini Kumara Mahamudalige (Father)
Kosala Kumara Mahamudalige ( Twin brother)