Reunited in love...

by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

As quoted by Pollock 'Maternal love! Thou word that sums up all bliss' were the sentiments expressed by twenty-nine-year old Sharmalie Anusha Priyanganie Wijekoon of Wijerama, Nugegoda whose baby went missing twelve hours after birth on December 18 at the Kalubowila South Hospital making the incident a talk of the town.

Recuperating from a state of utter bewilderment shortly after childbirth and realizing that her son had been stolen by some one; Sharmalie now holds baby Gavish close to her bosom strengthening the mother-baby bond which was 'lost and found' after almost a week of excruciating trauma , sleeplessly nights and endless tears.

In the eyes of many the incident was gross and unbelievable and unethical. "It was the credibility of the media and the Police force that helped us find our little Gavish," says Kumara Wasantha Fernando, the father happily.

"The impact caused by this incident is something that will remain in the minds of many people and this is a pity. Culprits should be brought to book.

We were compelled to go to a government hospital for the confinement as we did not have the means to go elsewhere but I didn't mind going to Kalubowila South Hospital as I had confidence in the hospital .

However, when this happened I was really annoyed and lost for words even to blame anybody but I went along everywhere with the Kohuwela Police looking for our baby. A special thanks to OIC Kohuwela, Prasanna Bakhmanage and Chief Inspector Upul Allawatte who conducted the search."

The premeditated act of the woman suspect is unfathomable. "I remember seeing the woman even the previous day in the Ward and on that particular day he recollected seeing her dressed in a maternity dress during visiting hours and shortly after that she had changed into a bed jacket and been on one of the beds saying she was waiting to be discharged.

Kumara had even noticed her speaking to Sharmalie when he went over to register the baby's name. In fact I told the Police that I think it was this woman who may have taken our baby away." The baby was eventually found in the suspects house at Thalapathpitiya.

The suspect, a mother herself of two children, a son and daughter was remanded on Thursday till January 2.

She had apparently been married for the second time and could not conceive and had been threatened with divorce if she didn't have a son. It was this that spurred her to steal little Gavish, it was revealed.

Little Gavish had been fed on Lactagon milk powder for a week before he found the warmth of his mother's love and sweet embrace and is doing fine Sharmalie," says. Meanwhile, Kumara emphasized that he felt very sorry for the plight of the suspect's children were in, as a result of their mother's mistake.

"Children shouldn't be found fault with for their parents actions," he said vehemently.

"However, life is back to normal for us as we found little Gavish", says Kumara.

Meanwhile the reward of one million rupees, 500,000 from the parent's of the baby and 500,000 from Sirasa will be handed over after the completion of the investigations.

Now, Sharmalie, Kumara and Gavish are reunited and share the bliss of cherished memories of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

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