A total of 84 people have died by suicide in the Batticaloa District during the seven-month period from January 1 to July 31 this year, according to statistics released by the District Police Headquarters.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old female student died by suicide after hanging herself at the hostel of the Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Kallady, affiliated with the Eastern University, yesterday (19). Two other female students who witnessed the incident reportedly fainted due to shock and were admitted to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital.
The deceased student was a resident of the R.D.A. Road area in Thambiluvil, within the Thirukkovil Police Division. She had been selected for the drama stream and had commenced her studies at the institute around three months ago. She was a first-year student and had been residing at the institute's hostel.
The incident occurred at around 12 noon yesterday when the student was found hanging inside a hostel room. Two other students who witnessed the incident fainted in shock. Other students subsequently rescued all three students and took them to the emergency treatment unit of the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital.
According to the initial police investigations, the student who had been found hanging had already died, while the two students who fainted are receiving medical treatment.
The body of the deceased student has been placed at the hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination. Further investigations into the incident are being conducted by the Kattankudy Police.
Meanwhile, eight suicide deaths were reported in the Batticaloa District during June alone. Police statistics also indicate that 164 people died by suicide in the district during the full year from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
