Suwa Seriya crew assaulted while responding to patient call

By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe   

The driver and his assistant of a Suwa Seriya Ambulance (1990), who stopped at a house to rush an individual to the hospital after he fell ill during a party, were assaulted by two individuals attending the event.

During investigations, the Karuwalagaswewa Police arrested the suspects involved in the incident.

Police stated that an expatriate employee from a European country, visiting Sri Lanka on holiday, had hosted a birthday party at the house. When the owner of the house suddenly fell ill, his relatives called the Suwa Seriya Ambulance service (1990) to transport him to the hospital.

The ambulance was parked at a distance from the house due to road access obstructions caused by vehicles belonging to party attendees. However, two individuals, under the influence of liquor, assaulted the driver and his assistant, accusing them of parking the ambulance too far away.

The driver and his assistant, who sustained injuries, promptly returned to Karuwalagaswewa Police, who then admitted them to Puttalam General Hospital. Another Suwa Seriya ambulance from Puttalam subsequently arrived and transported the house owner to the hospital.

A police team, led by OIC Karuwalagaswewa Police IP Sujeewa Alawatta, is conducting further investigations.