Grease yakas a big hoax conclude forensic experts

Injuries self-inflicted or caused by `friendly hands’

February 25, 2012, 7:29 pm , The Island

The "Grease Yaka" phenomenon which created quite a furore last year was a vast hoax according to a scientific paper presented yesterday at the Academic Sessions of the College of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka held at the Auditorium of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.

Doctors Tikiri Gunathilake and Vidanapathirana said in a paper that the "victims" examined bore injuries "not compatible with their stories" with such injuries being either self-inflicted or caused by a "friendly hand."

The two doctors had examined six so called victims of the grease devils.

Another paper presented by doctors Vidanapathirana and Sugathapala dealt with 14 beggars killed on the pavements with blunt force injuries on their heads. This has been found to be the criminal work of one beggar with the killer accurately showing police investigators all crime scenes.

He is awaiting psychiatric review and trial and if convicted will be the first serial killer known in Sri Lanka.

Another paper read by Dr. K.S. Dahanayake and eight others shed light on chronic aresenic toxicity among patients with chronic kidney diseases of unknown aetiology in Padavi Siripura.

Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Senior Minister of Scientific Affairs was the chief guest at the 10th annual academic sessions of the College of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka held yesterday with Mrs. Kamalini de Silva, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, as guest of honour.

Prof. M.S.L. Salgado, the President of the College chaired the ceremonial opening session.

Yesterday’s proceedings of the academic event was not sponsored by the pharmaceuticals industry as is common with Prof. Salgado saying in a message printed in the abstract book that what had been achieved was through the collective and dedicated input of the members of the college and the support of the Health Ministry and other relevant government departments as well as UN agencies, UNICEF in particular