Lasantha Buddhika was adjudged the champion of bravery among Sri Lankans during the year 2002. He died in his act of gallantry and his father accepted the gold medal for Civilian Bravery Awards 2002, organised by the Foundation for Civilian Bravery (Sri Lanka FCBSL).
Lasantha (25) a garment factory worker and Karate instructor attempted to save a village vendor Ranjani Hemalatha and her child from a gang of armed men. Lasantha succumbed to his injuries at a tiny village in Elpitiya. But Ranjani survives, Lasantha never knew that he had got through his entrance examination to the Law College.
Forty other Sri Lankans received their awards for their acts of civilian bravery during year 2002, at the presentation, made last week. One among the winners was Sunday Observer journalist, Neomi Kodikara, who carried away the Media Appreciation Award.
How did he die foolishly, I mean he saved a person and there childs life. The title should be, “Karate Instructor is hero.”
So because he didn’t know he passed his entrance examination, it was foolish, really the title doesn’t fit the story. Please explain why it was foolish to save someones life.
I don’t agree just because he died he was foolish. If that was so, here is another possible headline “343 Foolish Firefighters Die Running Into World Trade Center Before Collapse”. Give me a break.
If the story said “Lasantha decided against calling the police and instead decided to dish out some street justice, karate style, feeling his train made him imperivous to fists and weapons” or “The thugs were about to leave until Lasantha challenged them to a duel of honor” I might say he was foolish.
If he had stood by and watched, the headline would read “Cowardly Karate Instructor Watches as Defeneless Mother and Child are Slaughtered”.
“I don’t agree just because he died he was foolish. If that was so, here is another possible headline “343 Foolish Firefighters Die Running Into World Trade Center Before Collapse”. Give me a break.”
They didnt know that the building would fall. What they did was dangerous. What the man did was suicide. I wouldve let them die.