Bright student suffering from nervous condition

by Ananda Agalakada and M.T.M. Fais, Hali-Ela Corr

It was a gloomy day. Priyangika Kumari was advised by her mother not to go to school hereafter. Ignoring her mother's advice she woke up every morning with the intention of going to school.

Sixteen-year-old Priyangika Kumari resides in Keeriyagolla Ambagahapathana Hali-Ela. She is the second child in her family. Her father D.M. Jayasooriya Bandara and mother Padmawathi are labourers. They could barely meet expenses and were facing many difficulties.

Priyangika wanted to study well. She knew, one could succeed in life only through obtaining a good education. But unfortunately her dreams are shattered due to poverty.

In the meantime, Priyangika's eldest sister married early and went away. Her parents were often engaged in their employment, Priyangika had to look after her youngest brother, ten-year-old Saliya Bandara who was born disabled.

Priyangika stopped schooling under her mother's instructions. Meanwhile, her father got cancer and life became extremely difficult.

Priyangika Kumari faced many impediments. Priyangika was also bed-ridden with an acute neuro ailment.

Swarnalatha is the principal of Badulla Keeriyagolla school. She told the Sunday Observer that Priyangika was a student of her school and she tried to study well. She was a knowledgable girl and excelled in sports activities and had a good reputation.

Priyangika dreamed to sit the G.C.E. O/Level examination in 2011. Four months before the O/L examination she could not attend school. She said, "with my staff I visited Priyangika's home to advise her to come back to study.

The principal further said, "We contributed money to offer Priyangika so that she could have spend it for her sickness and we requested her parents to send Priyangika again to school.

The principal said, according to her doctors, Priyangika's ailment they could not be fully diagnosed.

But they guessed, that because of stress, a germ had entered her body and she was suffering from an acute neuro ailment.

Her principal, teachers and friends are waiting for priyangika's return. They request any person or some organisation to assist this deserving student child and her family to be given some financial assistance.

There is a suspicion that the germ which has entered her body might be from the brother whom she has been caring for.