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Police victims of sudden terror
By Mahangu Weerasinghe
Wednesday's suicide attack at the Kollupitiya Police Station shattered nearly two-and-a-half years of relative peace in the country. Amid speculation of its effect on the peace process and the stock market, the blast that sent shockwaves across the country, also claimed the lives of four policemen, while injuring 11 others.

Among the dead was Chief Inspector E. M. H. Ekanayake, officer in charge of minor crimes at the Kollupitiya station. The Sunday Times visited the Maradana police flats where he had lived for more than 20 years. It did not take us much time to realise that he was popular in his neighbourhood.

"The sad thing is that he had nothing to do with the questioning of the suspect," said a family member. "Apparently, he had heard some female constables questioning the suicide bomber and had offered to call the bomb disposal unit. As he picked up the phone, the suicide bomber exploded herself. He was to retire in five months and had a post ready for him in a private company," said the family member.

A Kollupitiya police officer said that just before the suspect was brought to the station, CI Ekanayake had wanted to go home as he was having high blood pressure. CI Ekanayake, had served in Jaffna and other areas of the North for more than 20 years, but had never come close to death before.

"The saddest thing is that after two-and-a-half years of relative calm, death should choose to enter Sri Lanka through our family," mourned one family member. CI Ekanayake is survived by his wife, a teacher at Visakha Vidyalaya, and three children - two of whom are employed. The youngest, is still schooling.

The Sunday Times also visited the home of Reserve Police Constable Robert Attygalle, another victim of Wednesday's horror. Close to the retirement age of 55, Mr. Attygalle is survived by his wife and two children aged 13 and 18. Choking with grief, Mrs. Attygalle could only say, "The loss cannot be explained in words."

A family member said Mr. Attygalle just happened to be present at his desk when the blast took place. "He had nothing to do with the questioning of the suspect. It's just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time." S. A. B. Liyanage and S. A. K. B. Chandra Jayaratne, were the other two police officers who died in the attack.

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