(COLOMBO) – The Sri Lankan education authorities on Tuesday launched a probe after a 16-year-old school boy died during a marathon event in the north-east part of the country.
The incident took place inside the premises of the Thirukkovil Methodist Central College in Ampara some 345 kilometres from the commercial capital of Colombo.
The victim identified only as Vidurshan died while under treatment at a regional Government hospital.
The incident triggered-off a tense situation in the area as enraged parents and residents pelted the hospital with stones and other missiles blaming the facility of adequate emergency treatment that resulted in the boy’s death.
The cause of death was not immediately announced but it was widely believed that the victim had collapsed owing to a cardiac problem.
At the start of this month the authorities issued a guideline to all schools to stop outdoor sports and other activities owing to the sweltering heat that has engulfed the island-nation since mid February.
The authorities are probing among other issues whether the school where the incident took place had adhered to this guideline.
Meanwhile officials with the local Department of Meteorology have cautioned the public of rising temperatures in several parts of the country and cautioned people to stay hydrated, take breaks in the shade as often as possible and limit strenuous outdoor activities.
