10-year-old falls prey to faith healing practices: The dark side of choosing faith over science

Maleesha (right) with parents

The death of a 10-year-old Maleesha Dulakshana sent waves of shock, anger and sympathy among most Sri Lankans but reality is such that many segments of society have largely been blinded by false beliefs and myths. Incidents of faith healing practices that took a toll on people’s lives have been reported from time to time but people continue to believe in supernatural powers especially during desperate times. During the COVID-19 pandemic the government also endorsed several of these practices, promoting locally made concoctions and dropping pots into rivers. While it is every person’s right to believe in a particular faith or religion, such beliefs should certainly not endanger another person’s life. But whether the authorities are ready to take sound action before another person falls victim to such practices remains a doubt. 

Child had a terminal illness : Appuhamy   

Two white flags indicated that we were going in the direction of Maleesha’s house in Andimulla which had been in the news the day prior to our visit. The Daily Mirror sat down for a chat with his grandfather K. D. Mervin Appuhamy. He is a father of four sons and Maleesha’s father was his second son. “The child had a terminal illness for around one-and-a-half years and was receiving treatment at Lady Ridgeway Hospital. Our son works at Don Bosco Seminary as a carpenter and he comes home late. 

On Wednesday (February 9) morning I saw them running to the police. When we asked they said that Maleesha was sick and had to be admitted to hospital. The police had called an ambulance thereafter. It was only when the doctors asked us to look at the body that we saw what had actually happened. They claimed that the child had been dead for sometime. The corpse was swollen and was in a bad state.”  
When asked if they got a stench as claimed in certain media reports, Appuhamy responded in the negative. 
They acted in a suspicious manner: Rani   

"It was only when the doctors asked us to look at the body that we saw what had actually happened. They claimed that the child had been dead for sometime - Mervin Appuhamy"

“Initially they were Roman Catholics, but last August or so they joined a new faith that claimed to cure those who were severely ill and they believed that they could raise the dead back to life,” opined M. D. Rani, Maleesha’s paternal grandmother. “We only wanted the child to be cured. Anybody has the freedom to believe in any religion. Lately, they were acting in a suspicious manner. They used to close the doors all the time. When we ask about the child the mother would say that he was watching TV. The last time I saw him was on Sunday (February 6). She claimed that the child shouldn’t be playing as he was sick and that there was a lot of dust. What we don’t understand is why she hid the fact that the child was dead. The people from the new church too had requested them to stop giving medicine and to keep praying in order to cure the child.”

Even with a dead body they carried on their work as usual : Irangani   

Sriyalatha Irangani is a neighbour who had been helping them at times of need. “I told them not to join this new faith and that they would have to face consequences. There have been similar incidents before and this is why we warned them. On the day of the incident, I saw the ambulance and when I asked them what happened they didn’t respond. When I went in, I was shocked to see the body. Why was the child naked and how did the corpse turn black? On Sunday, he was riding a bicycle. This probably would have happened that night. We suspect why they removed his clothes. The mother was telling that the pastors have asked her to ‘send the child to Jesus.’ Even with a dead body at home they were carrying on with their daily activities. They sent their younger daughter to Montessori, we saw her going shopping, bought new clothes and was spending the day as usual.”  

However the Daily Mirror learned that the child had been receiving treatment until January, even after they had joined the new faith. Medical reports indicate that the child had been receiving treatment till January 19, 2022. The child was terminally ill and was diagnosed with hypoglycemia, kidney disorder and was receiving treatment for several other conditions. Family members also claimed that the pastors had visited the house three months ago and had heard them singing hymns. 

“Will speak to media once legal process concludes”- Gospel of God Ministry official 

It was also brought to our notice that the family had been following healing services conducted by the Gospel of God Ministries. However when contacted an official in the church, said that they would speak to media once the legal process concludes. 

cause of death under investigation 

The Badalgama police had received a call on February 9 evening, where area residents had complained of a stench emanating from the house. “By the time the Police arrived, the child was dead and the corpse was rotten,” opined Police Media Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa. “We believe that the body is at least two days old. According to their faith, they don’t take medical treatment, but keep on praying until the sick gets cured. However the Judicial Medical Officer’s (JMO)report revealed that the child had tested positive for COVID,” he added. The boy’s grandmother, mother and father were arrested and were produced before the Negombo Magistrate court. The mother has been further remanded till February 18 while the father and grandmother had been released on a personal bail of Rs. 500,000 each. The Magistrate had further ordered the JMO who conducted the autopsy to direct the mother to a psychiatrist and to produce medical reports to courts. 

"Child protection is a dual carriageway where the traffic must flow parallel in one direction. The moment the traffic flows in opposite direction there will be combustion with alarming consequences as now - Dr. Tushara Wickramanayaka"

Call for a collective action  

Maleesha was a student of Maria Rajinee Junior School located a few meters away from his house. The Principal of the school recalled how he participated in school activities despite his condition. “During one year he was the Avurudu Kumaraya as well,” she said while requesting anonymity. “But sometimes he would fall sick and we send him home. He recently sat for the Grade 5 scholarship exam as well. “He was a well-behaved child and there was never a complaint about him. It’s quite unfortunate that this happened to him. My message to society is that nobody should go to any extremes. Anybody has the right to believe in what they think is right but it shouldn’t affect another person’s life. It’s high time that people get together and took a collective stance against these false beliefs and myths before another individual falls victim to these practices,” she added. 

"Anybody has a right to follow a faith and in the case of a child he or she is not developed enough to give consent. Therefore parents give consent on their behalf. This could be due to fear of losing a child - Prof. Harendra De Silva"

Good parenting versus lack of visionary leadership

This incident worsens the child protection crisis in the country. “Eleven children have been physically/sexually abused or neglected and murdered by their nearest and dearest during the last seventeen months in Sri Lanka,” opined Dr. Tushara Wickramanayaka, Founder of the ‘Stop Child Cruelty Trust’ and Co-convener of the Child Protection Alliance.   

“This is an unprecedented state of affairs in a country that is officially at peace. Child protection should start when individuals plan to become parents. The key word is “plan”, which is a serious discussion of realistic commitment, perpetual care and abundance of compassion required to nourish a child. Although our ancestors may not have had formal training to become parents, “do as you learned” in the 21st century, imitating our parents is not proving to be successful for our children. It is imperative that parenting skills are taught at every opportunity from antenatal visits, to new born baby checks, to immunization clinics, to preparation for nursery and beyond. Laws and policies are supportive mechanisms to enhance child protection in a formative way. Child protection is a dual carriageway where the traffic must flow parallel in one direction. The moment the traffic flows in opposite direction there will be combustion with alarming consequences as now.”  

She further said that myths and beliefs are very personal and are common in most communities around the world. “However, it is the responsibility of policy makers and authorities to guide the public on facts and science. Covid pandemic struck the world into turmoil but it was aggravated by the imbecile efforts of Sri Lankan authorities who endorsed dropping clay pots into the river and sprinkling holy water as remedies to a deadly disease, encouraging thousands of people to follow suit into an early grave. People are often in shock in situations of disease; their mental state may be fragile, in financial crisis and without social support it is very easy to convert these individuals with false hopes. Religious groups were notorious to take advantage of the vulnerable following the Tsunami disaster when they converted many desperate folk living along the coastlines with promise of abundance by god. This is evil. The lack of visionary leadership is a karma served upon the whole nation.” 

"It’s unfortunate that our people live with such archaic beliefs, perhaps such incidents may not have happened even during the Stone Age - Piyal Nishantha"

Negligence of medical care as a form of child abuse

Commenting on the unfortunate incident founding Chairman of National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) Prof. Harendra De Silva recalled a similar incident that had happened in early 2000 when he was serving as Chairperson of the Authority. “A child needed a blood transfusion but parents refused it. At the time we were contemplating whether we should take the child under the guardianship of the state. But then again it’s a matter of parent’s rights, child rights, human rights, right to a religion, right to a faith and so on. There are several points to consider. Anybody has a right to follow a faith and in the case of a child he or she is not developed enough to give consent. Therefore parents give consent on their behalf. This could be due to fear of losing a child.”  

For example if a child has a cancer in a limb and the doctors say that the limb has to be removed parents will opt for other alternatives like looking for supernatural ways of curing a child. They may go to soothsayers, native medical practitioners etc. Everyday in our wards, we have parents removing children against medical advice. I have been thinking of including legislation where the doctor treating a child could apply to the magistrate in the area and affirm that a particular child needs medical treatment and therefore should be taken under the guardianship of the state. But then again there are debatable matters about whether it is the state or the parents who could take the guardianship of a child. But there’s no legal provision to do that. In fact, this has to be a form of abuse but it has not been documented.”  

He proposed that negligence of medical care and nutrition should be a form of child abuse. “In 1995 we introduced a major provision by way of the 22nd Amendment to the Penal Code to include all sorts of child abuse which includes both physical and sexual abuse. But sexual abuse has largely been incomplete as it doesn’t include corporal punishment. Section 308 A talks about cruelty towards children which is punishable by law and perpetrators will be given three years imprisonment. However, negligence of medical care and nutrition has not been established in our legal books.”  

He further said that children are taken against medical advice partly because of bigotry and that it happens in other religions as well. “People can argue. Some may believe that a child was cured from water taken from the Himalayas when its actually tap water from the backyard. Therefore this is a grey area that needs to be discussed further.”  
When asked about groundwork that needs to be done in order to bring in such legislation he said that the NCPA could bring about any law. “They are equipped with a multidisciplinary Committee. Therefore they can initiate such actions, keep pressuring other law enforcement authorities until this is passed as a law.” 

"Once submitted we can forward it to a group to be discussed further and be implemented in due course - Ali Sabry"

Awareness programmes at grassroots level 

When contacted, State Minister of Children’s and Women’s Affairs Piyal Nishantha said that those found guilty of the incident should be punished by the law. “In order to debunk false beliefs and myths there has to be some attitudinal changes as well. Last Friday we had a discussion with officials at NCPA and other stakeholders and decided to launch some awareness programmes at grassroots level. Not only parents but all citizens should be responsible for this worrying state of affairs. If there were educated people who associated this family, they should have educated them on why the child needs to be given medical treatment. It’s unfortunate that our people live with such archaic beliefs, perhaps such incidents may not have happened even during the Stone Age.” 

Proposals to regulate faith healing practices could be considered: Justice Minister   

Responding to a query on whether any proposals have been submitted on regulating faith healing practices, Justice Minister Ali Sabry responded in the negative.
 However he said that such a proposal could be considered after studying what other countries have done in this regard. “Once submitted we can forward it to a group to be discussed further and be implemented in due course,” he added.