The Head of the Women's and Children's branch of the Matara Police IP Waruni Bogahawatta managed to persuade a widowed mother of six (one boy and five girls) from drowning herself in the Nilwala River this morning.
The woman who was widowed three years ago was greatly distressed that she was unable to fend for her six children whose ages ranged from six to seventeen, and had decided to end her life.
She had brought the four youngest children with her to Matara and waded waist deep into the river under the Mahanama Bridge when passersby notified the police.
The police officers were unable to change the woman's mind until IP Bogahawatta arrived on the scene and persuaded the woman to come ashore, promising her that her grievances would be looked into.
The woman was to be admitted to the Matara hospital for medical attention while the four younger girls were taken into the care of the Department of Probation.
