Lagoon Park, Bar Road, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Please click on the web-link below:-

https://www.facebook.com/philip.veerasingam/posts/2662852587060345

 

Environs of Kallady Bridge, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Please click on the  web-link below:-

https://www.facebook.com/philip.veerasingam/posts/2572964052715866

Fascinating scenes of Batticaloa

Please click on the web-link below :-
https://www.facebook.com/philip.veerasingam/posts/2526827813996157

Easter Sunday massacre, April 2019, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT AT TEACHING HOSPITAL BATTICALOA DURING THE EASTER SUNDAY ATTACK

21st of April 2019 was an unfortunate day for all Sri Lankans and Batticaloa once again received the mass casualties following a brutal terrorist attack.  During the 30 year war which ended in 2009 such events were very common.  2004 Tsunami was another tragedy which bought mass casualties. Although we rehearsed several times at the Emergency Department in the recent past, the real emergency of a mass casualty broke in yesterday ( 21/ 04/2019 )

The explosion at the Zion church happened around 8.50 am. Since this place is less than a kilometer away from the Hospital, Dead bodies and injured patients were bought immediately. The time for the preparation at the Accident and Emergency was very minimal. It took some time for us to realize that it is a bomb blast. Initial stories were Gas explosions or Transformer explosion because the first admission came with a burn.

The triage at the A and E was led by Dr.T.R.Nimalaranjan (Consultant Surgeon) who was on call along with the two Consultant Anaestetists namely Dr.S.Mathanalagan and Dr.Yogananth. Although it was a Sunday following a long weekend holiday the hospital authorities were able to brought enough doctors, nurses and other health staff within an hour. When I arrived at the A and E , I was surprised to see that each patient is attended by at least one doctor and two nurses.

There were a total of 69 admissions. Majority was having penetrating shrapnel injuries and some had flash burn in addition. 04 patients died in the R room due to inevitable injuries to head, chest and abdomen in spite of resuscitation. Out of this four, three were children which was very heartbreaking. Another 26 dead bodies were also bought but they were triaged out. All 03 operating theatres at the A and E, the ENT theatre and a routine theatre   were opened immediately for operating (5 tables). 02 Emergency Laparotomies, One Thoracotomy, Few Neck explorations, Fasciotomies, and many compound fracture cleaning were some of the immediate procedures we did. One child needed a clavicle division to ligate a laceration on subclavian vein. Two patients were transferred to TH Kandy and TH Anuradhapura for Neurosurgical care. Two children had evisceration of eyes due to penetrating injuries.

Existing patients in the Intensive Care Units were transferred out to ICUs at DGH Ampara to clear Emergency beds. Dr.V.Jeevathas (Consultant ENT surgeon), Dr.N.Jayaratne (Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon), Dr.A.Madushanka(Consultant OMF surgeon), Dr.W.Wijayasiriwardana (Consultant eye surgeon) and Dr.R.Ramesh  (Consultant Physician) did their maximum to safeguard the lives of this unfortunate. I was surprised to see Dr.Salakianathan, who is a Senior Consultant Surgeon at United Kingdom and a member of the CSSL came in to do a Neck exploration.

I should not forget the services by Dr.Anton Swarnan (Senior Registrar, NHSL ) , Surgical Registrars Dr.Harikrishanth, Dr.Kokulan, Dr.Kovoor, Dr.Pakeerathan, Dr.Arulprasanth, Dr.Sivakaran and Dr.Kalaventhan. Some of them are not working at the TH Batticaloa but were on holiday with their families and quickly responded to the emergency call. Dr.Kalaranjini, Director TH Batticaloa coordinated all the activities with no time for preparation.

Although it’s an unfortunate event and should never happen in this country again, it gives a feedback for our performances. The importance of continuous updates on ATLS and NTMC courses for all surgeons in this country became very obvious on this day.

Thank you

Dr.S.Branavan

Consultant General Surgeon

Council Member ( Eastern Chapter)

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Please click on the following web-link:-

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6948417/Minutes-blast-Children-pictured-Sunday-school-service-14-youngsters-died.html

 

Kaaththaankudy, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka in 2011.

Entrance to the Dutch Fort, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

The rampart and the site of the Gallows in Dutch times, Fort, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

This was supposed to have been the site  of the gallows of Dutch times. I heard a legend in Batticaloa in the 1980s that some watchers at night have heard sounds of booted marching feet and shouted commands coming from this site. This was presumably coming from the ghost of a long dead commander of the Dutch Fort.

Batticaloa fort

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Print of sketch by Baldeus

The Batticaloa Fort (Sinhalese: මඩකලපුව බලකොටුව; Tamil: மட்டக்களப்புக் கோட்டை) was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was captured by the Dutch on 18 May 1638.^[2] Later, the fort was used by British from 1745.

The fort has a structure of four bastions and is protected by the Batticaloa Lagoon on two sides and a canal on the other two sides. The fort is still in reasonable condition and currently houses several local administrative departments of the Sri Lanka government in new buildings, which are located within the old structure.^[3]

Timeline[edit]

Timeline of Batticaloa fort in colonial time.^[4]

• 1622 – Construction began by Portuguese
• 1628 – Construction completed
• 1638 – Dutch captured
• 1639 – Fort destroyed by Dutch
• 1665 – Reconstruction started
• 1682 – Renovation
• 1707 – Front bastion and complex completed
• 1766 – Ceded to Kandyan kingdom
• 1796 – Captured by British

Sights from inside the Dutch Fort, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Government offices.

A 'Sentry Box'

The protective moat.

On the rampart of the Fort.

The Dutch Fort, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Entrance to the Fort.

The story of the construction of the Fort.

The Palmyra tree with branches and the environs of the old Government Agent's bungalow, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

A similar Palmyra tree is seen at the  Vallipuram temple, Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

The GA's bungalow built during British Colonial times.

Entering 'Puliyantheevu', Batticaloa by the new connecting road.

'Nongu' - the jelly like kernel of the Palmyra palm, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

''Kallady beach', Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

The acres of soft sand bordering the Indian Ocean is a paradise for revelers on moonlit nights.

The 'Gateway', Puliyantheevu, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, sights.

Entrance to the old Dutch Fort.

A cannon at the Fort entrance.

At eventide.

The old 'Kallady' bridge.

Resting Place near the Batticaloa Lagoon, Sri Lanka.

A place to sit and watch the sunset and getting a gentle breeze, this indeed is Paradise.

Light-house beach, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

Opposite the Light-house, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Beach opposite the Light-house

Outrigger on the lagoon

Video:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNzq82YPkBk