Keheliya hopeful of a quick return

By Manjula FERNANDO

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella speaking to the Sunday Observer in a brief interview from the Epworth Rehabilitation Hospital in Brighton where he is undergoing treatment for his leg injuries said he is hopeful of returning to Sri Lanka by the end of this month.

He said he was fortunate to be 'among the living' after the fall from the balcony of his third floor room in a Melbourne hotel. The Sunday Observer telephoned him to get the latest on his medical condition and ask when he is expected to return to the country. The Parliament granted him three months duty leave last week to attend to his medical treatments.

Despite the nasty fall, the Minister said he suffered fractures only to his ankles and this was a miracle. The other parts of the body which are highly prone to fractures during a fall, like the knees, hips, shoulders and the neck, have been spared.

He said his son returned to Sri Lanka after treatment last week. The reason for their travel to Melbourne was to get treatment for a medical condition of his son. The Minister's wife travelled to Melbourne following the mishap. She will be accompanying him until he is discharged from hospital and given permission to return home. He confirmed that legal redress is being sought since the lawyers whom he had consulted were of the view that the hotel contributed to his present medical state.

The excerpts of the interview:

Q: When will you be able to come back to Sri Lanka?

A: Hopefully within the next two weeks I will be able to fly back. On March 22 I will be meeting the doctors who were in charge of the surgery and there I will be able to know what the position is. Despite the magnitude of the incident, the doctors say that I am recovering alright.

Therefore on 22nd I will be able to say exactly when I can come back.

Q: Are you going to take legal action against the hotel for the accident?

A: Lawyers looking after my interests had initiated correspondence with the hotel to claim damages for my accident. What my lawyers are saying is that the conditions at the hotel contributed to my current medical state. The room and the balcony are a single unit. In the event of somebody getting locked outside the balcony, there has to be some sort of communication which in this case was not there.

The lawyers are of the view that this lapse has contributed to my condition and therefore they are liable to pay compensation. The lawyers representing the hotel are in fact in contact with my lawyers to negotiate terms. It is at that stage now. Two Sri Lankan lawyers of an Australian legal consortium are looking after my interests on a personal basis.

Q: How did the accident happen?

A: I was locked in the balcony for a long time and fell off when I tried to get out.

Looking at the magnitude of the incident, I am surprised that I am among the living. Both my ankles have been fractured. One ankle has been fixed with a plaster cast. To put the bones of the other ankle together the doctors at Alfred Hospital, Melbourne where the surgery was performed had to use titanium nails. They used a very modern technology. I am fortunate that other parts of my body, the areas prone to fractures like, knees, hips, shoulders or neck were not damaged due to the fall. The doctors are happy with the progress I have shown so far.

Q: When will you be able to resume official duties?

A: Doctors say that I will be able to attend to my activities in three months time and by six months I will be able to move around normally.

There is a team of six doctors and a Professor attending to my medical condition. Both my nephews are consultant doctors in Australia. One is with the Monash Medical Centre. It is very likely that by the end of the month I should be back in Sri Lanka.

Q: Sri Lanka is fighting a bitter battle at the 19th sessions of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, with a resolution being pushed by the US on accountability issues?

A: I regret that I had to keep away from work and the country due to my medical condition at a time when my services are most needed.

I was one of the members of the delegation to Geneva.

But I am sure my colleagues, just like in the past, will be able to fight Sri Lanka's case at the UN HRC and protect the country's interests despite sinister moves by certain quarters, including certain Sri Lankans to bring the country in to disrepute.

The Government is quite capable of protecting their interests and I am sure they will be supported by the right thinking members of the international community.