A mobile cold storage unit valued at Rs. 2.2 million has been donated by the Galle business community to the National Hospital in Galle to assist in storing the bodies of victims recovered from the Iranian vessel incident off Sri Lanka.
Hospital sources said the donation was made after authorities faced difficulties storing the large number of bodies recovered following the maritime tragedy, as the hospital’s existing mortuary capacity was insufficient. Iranian authorities are expected to repatriate the bodies to Iran.
Currently, the bodies of 84 individuals recovered from the Iranian vessel are being stored in two mobile cold storage units at the hospital. One unit was provided by the Ministry of Health, while the other was donated by the Galle business community.
Post-mortem examinations have been completed on the 84 bodies brought to the mortuary of the National Hospital in Galle on the night of April 4.
Following submissions made by the Galle Harbour Police to the Galle Magistrate’s Court, an inquest was conducted yesterday (05) under the supervision of Chief Magistrate Sameera Dodangoda and Additional Magistrate Maheshika Wijayatunga.
After inspecting the bodies, the magistrates ordered the Judicial Medical Officer of the Galle National Hospital to conduct post-mortem examinations.
Hospital sources said the post-mortems were carried out from yesterday afternoon until early this morning and have now been completed, with the Judicial Medical Officer’s Office stating that the medical causes of death have been determined and official certificates will be issued in due course. (Newswire)
