15-year-old student dies while training for school marathon

By Keshara Gunathilake  

A 15-year-old student who was training for a marathon event of the house sports meet of Dutugemunu National School in Buttala collapsed while running and died after being admitted to hospital this morning (11), police said.  

Police identified the deceased as D.M. Maleesha Sandakelum, a Grade 12 student of the school and a resident of Bogahaella, Weheragoda, on the Buttala–Badalkumbura Road.  

According to police, the student had been training with several other students for the marathon race of the school’s inter-house sports meet. The group had started their run near the Katugahakolaniya tank along the Buttala–Badalkumbura Road and were running towards Buttala when the student suddenly collapsed. He was initially admitted to the Buttala District Hospital and later transferred to the Monaragala District General Hospital for further treatment, where he succumbed to his condition.  

A magisterial inquiry into the death was scheduled to be held yesterday (11), while Sri Lanka Police said further investigations are being conducted by Buttala Police.