Military romance and rising suicides…

120 soldiers have committed suicide during the past three years

Nearly 120 soldiers have committed suicide during the past three years, military officials said.
Military Spokesperson, Brig. Ruwan Wanigasuriya told The Nation that 400 military personnel had died during the said period due to various reasons, ranging from illness to homicide.

The latest incident was reported when Major Nalin Sampath Kumara (37) attached to the 8th Gajaba Regiment, Saliyapura Army Camp, committed suicide following a personal dispute.

The major was reported to have been having a love affair with a 17-year-old schoolgirl from Kamburupitya for nearly five months. According to the Police, the incident had occurred when the Major had a meeting with the father of the girl to discuss marriage. The father had rejected the proposal. Thereafter, a heated argument ensued and the angered Major had run to his double cab, taken a hand grenade and pulled the pin. The father and daughter did not sustain injuries and the police had recorded their statements.

Wanigasuriya said military personnel were allowed to carry pistols, but not hand grenades. Investigations are proceeding to uncover how the hand grenade was in the double cab.

Euthanasia: Political, Social And Health Dilemmas

By Ruwan M Jayatunge M.D -September 16, 2012

Dr. Ruwan M Jayatunge MD

You don’t need to kill the patient to kill the pain –Dr. Andre Bourque University of Montréal

Euthanasia or assisted suicide is a controversial topic that is defined as deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life, to relieve intractable suffering. Today several countries have legalized euthanasia and some view it as a human right. Those who support euthanasia point out that the importance of personal autonomy and self-determination, the right of every human being to have his / her wishes respected in decisions involving his / her own body and the recognition of every human being is in principle, master of his/ her own destiny.

In 2002 Holland became the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia and in 2003, 1626 cases were officially reported fromHolland. The Dutch euthanasia law gives doctors immunity from prosecution if they help to kill patients over the age of 12 who are suffering unbearably from incurable conditions and who have repeatedly requested euthanasia.

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