Powers of positive thinking

by Lakmal Welabada

People kill themselves or become suicidal for the slightest issue. Whether you are a teenager, youth or adult, this story might give you a clue to life, tell you how important a human life is.

"I am disabled from my waist down," says Pradeep de Silva, ex-police Sub Inspector (SI), with a smile while browsing the computer. The website he has launched appears on the screen.

The iron monitor seems to be his buddy. Many of his counterparts who were with him when he was standing on his feet, when he was energetically running to and fro catching enemies not of his, but of the society as a SI have disappeared. But he has found a new set of friends, and built a net work which gives him more moral assistance, and that has been the disguised blessing that has forced him to face life with determination.

Pradeep was an athlete, a Karate kid and a cricketer, Elle and Volley Ball champion in his school at Dambagahawela Central College, Monaragala. "Though I was a sportsman, I was great at art and drawing as well.

So many of my teachers thought that I would select 'art' as my profession in the future. But my desire was to join either the Forces or Police. The short story appeared in the 'Silumina' (our Sinhala Weekly sister paper) written by Denagama Siriwardhane which was based on a Policeman who fought against the injustice, enticed me towards the 'Police profession'. So immediately after sitting for the A/Ls I joined the Police. It was 1990. I was just 20 -21 years old then," recalls Pradeep.

His first appointment was at Badulla and then he had willingly served in the operational areas such as Vavunia, Pesale Thalimannar, Mannar and Jaffna. Pradeep was the first OIC at Madayal Police joint (situated in between Kankasanthurai and Karai Nagar, and then at Chavakachcheri Police joint in 1996.

Pradeep 'Ranawiruwa' became the Acting OIC of Crime Detective Division at the Kotahena Police in 1999, the most decisive transfer of his life. "I had to handle a fraud done by a foreign job agent. "The accused had taken money from three innocent youths from Buttala. The agent had fetched them near a medical centre at Kotahena. He had asked the three to get off from the van asking them to go in to the medical centre and he would join them soon. He had then disappeared.

"Following their complaint I somehow got the job agent back to Colombo using my police trade tactics. October 23, 1999 was the day I planned to catch him. With another few subordinates of mine I went to the place we planned to get at him.

I got off the Police jeep and went to his van. I took the key of the van from him while announcing we were from the Police. The others of our Police team also followed me.

But At this moment the revolver which was in the possession of one of the Police Constables of the team misfired and a bullet ran through my back and came out from the chest. I held my breath until I was taken to the hospital as even at that point I knew the 'value of my life' ," he says.

Yes, he did. After a great struggle the doctors were able to save his life, but he became disabled. Pradeep was a Police officer who wanted to serve the nation. And that became just a faded dream. Following his disability many around him including his loved ones gradually went away from him. But he was emotionally stable.

He tried to get the salary entitled for the Forces and the Police as he became disabled while on duty. "Still the Police Welfare Society has not even spared me a glance. Thanks to the Director General of Pension K.A.Thilakaratne who helped me a great deal in getting me the pension.

Now I'm drawing Rs,6000 per month, but that is not enough even to pay off my Rs,6500 rent of the annex," he claims. After the tragical incident, Pradeep was asked to go for an operation in Singapore to get himself treated.

"I had to find Rs,27 Lakhs. My parents and family were at Moneragala and was not in a position to help me," he reminisces.

So, he had to fight for it, alone! He had three choices, either to commit suicide or accept his condition and be with it until death or to fight against his fate and find money for his operation.

A lonely man whose limbs were no more energetic was dreaming with positive thoughts. Finally he started recalling his childhood talents - arts. His Acrylic and water colour paints have marvellously rewarded him. Some force drew him to talk to Sir Arthur C. Clarke, who became a great blessing to him.

"Sir Clarke was the chief guest of my art exhibition at the Art Gallery. Many affluent people also visited it. I was really lucky as my first painting was sold to Rs,1,47,000," he says.

Pradeep's determination somehow helped him in many ways. It's a miracle! He found money and went to Singapore. "Weragoda Sarada Thero of the Singapore Meditation Centre should also be given credit in this sense," he says with gratitude.

[email protected]