House robbery destroys mental peace of school children

Deheragoda’s  sons

An incident was reported from Eheliyagoda on December 16, 2018 where a gang of five robbers, who had arrived in a white van, had forcibly entered the  house of a wealthy businessman named Janaka Deheragoda and caused mayhem. The house named Weralu Gaha Wallawwa was inherited by this businessman. The 
incident took place around 7.35 pm. 
Two of the five robbers had come in the guise of policemen. One of them was in the possession of a gun. They had told Deheragoda that they were from the Police and wanted to check the house. They had said that they had received a tip-off  that there was a gun inside the house.
Although he had reiterated that there was no gun inside the house, they kept on searching for the weapon, ransacking the house.  Deheragoda had constantly inquired as to which police they were attached to. However, when they had failed to respond, Deheragoda realised that they had come for a different purpose.  
While they were searching, the robbers had tied Deheragoda on to a chair and asked his wife to open the drawer of the cupboard where money and jewellery were kept. They had defrauded money worth Rs. 50,000 and jewellery worth Rs.1.5 million.  The robbers had remained at his home for nearly one hour, harassing the members of Deheragoda’s family.  
 Speaking to Daily Mirror  Deheragoda said that his children had been thoroughly shaken up by the incident. He said that they were shocked and even hesitate to 
attend school.

“I can bear what happened to my money and jewellery, but it is heartbreaking when I see the state my children are in. Their ordinary behaviour has changed. They always live in fear that they would be attacked"

“I can bear what happened to my money and jewellery, but it is heartbreaking when I see the state my children are in. Their ordinary behaviour has changed. They always live in fear that they would be attacked. They do not let me go out at night saying that those people would return,” said Deheragoda. 
He said that the robbers had driven fear into his wife and children by brandishing a gun. 
“My wife and two children, aged 6 and 12, had been held as hostages and threatened by the robbers who used filthy words. Although they did not attempt to assault them, the words they used and their behaviour had disturbed their mental peace,” he went on.  
“I too am in trepidation that this particular incident would adversely affect their futures. Both children are good at studies. I am wondering whether these disturbing memories will fade away,” he added.    

He said that they had met a doctor who had prescribed medical treatment and given advice to his children. “The doctor too opined that the incident might have affected the children, The doctor said that it would take time for them to recover and return to normalcy,” he said. 
He said, “I had ample time to flee with my family to a safe location when I saw they were coming. But I knew I have not done anything illegal”. 
Those suspects, arrested on December 17 in connection with the robbery, were granted bail on December 27. Further investigations are being carried out by the Kiriella Police under the supervision of Crime OIC I.P. Wijeratne. The case will be taken up again on February 5.