Reincarnation Claim Involves Dead Sri Lankan President
Medical experts are yet to carry out a thorough study on Sampath Wijebahu, the little boy who claimed to be the late President Premadasa, reborn.
More study necessary on 'reborn' Premadasa
Dr. Granville Dharmawardene, Director, Radio Isotope Centre, at the Colombo University told The Sunday Times that studies will be conducted after six months when the boy is two years old. "At the moment it is difficult to get at anything, but when he is two, his vocabulary will be better. At present he is too attached to his mother and also too young to answer questions,'' said Dr. Dharmawardene. However he added that they will not give up the study and have informed the parents that they will be visiting Sampath in six months' time.
Sampath first caught the attention when he woke up at 3 a.m. one day and observed Pansil. Further, seeing a coin depicting the late President, he had said, 'that is me'. He had also referred to Hema as his wife and Dulanjali and Sajith as his children. As a test the boy was brought to Colombo where he visited 'Sucharitha' and Armour Street. Commenting on the reactions of Sampath when visiting these places, Dr. Dharmawardene said that it is difficult to come to any conclusion.
"He may have cried at Armour Street, because he was separated from his mother or for any other reason, but we will have to wait and see.'' He added that they cannot go on what his parents and Buddhist priests say. A study has to be done on Sampath. When asked whether the boy's memory of his past life will be affected due to media attention and the large number of people visiting Sampath, Dr. Dharmawardene said that it would be a nuisance to him, but added that with time the attention will die down.
According to medical experts generally a child of this nature, will remember his previous birth from two to five years. "But these change and it's not the same with all, as some may remember even after five years.'' said Dr. Dharmawardene. Meanwhile OIC of the Hanguranketa police told The Sunday Times that public interest had died down and Sampath has got back to his normal life.
