Rohana Wijeweera's wife files petition after 28 years ...
saying he is missing!
Wife of pioneer and leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Mr. Rohana Wijewera, Mrs. Chitrangani Wijeweera has filed a writ of habeus corpus with appeal courts today (29) requesting him to be summoned to courts without delay saying that he had disappeared for so many years and that no information has been received about him either.
The writ has been forwarded through attorney-at-law Mr. Senaka Titus and 11 respondents have been
named including K.A. Wijedasa, a former secretary of the president, former army commander Hamilton Wanasinghe, major general Janaka Perera and captain Gamini Hettiarachchi. There are newspaper records to say that he was shot dead together with Upatissa Gamanayaka keeping them lined up on the rail-track adjoining golf grounds behind Borella kanatta on 13th dawn in 1989. Though there were rumours later on that Wijeweera and Gamanayaka were heavily battered prior to being killed and that their limbs would be broken and that they would be thrown into the crematorium while still alive and be burned there, there is no genuine evidence that anything of that nature has actually taken place.
The media announcement released by the army commander at that time Hamilton Wanasinghe is as follows: "The army has taken steps to conduct search operations in many areas including Ulapane based on secret information received on activities of the rebels concerned. A batch of army personnel who carried out operations in Ulapane area in the evening of November 12th 1989 they came across a person who could be suspected as Rohana Wijeweera. This person has admitted that he was Rohana Wijeweera when questioned about his identity and further admitted that the others in the house were his wife and children. Since there was suspicion that Rohana Wijeweera had connections with disruptive activities against the lawful regime in the country and other antagonistic and other intimidating activities, he was thus taken into custody for further investigations. The decision of the chief of the army personnel who arrested him was to take him to a place where he would be afforded the highest possible protection.
That very night Rohana Wijeweera was brought to Colombo at 10 o'clock. Subsequent to further interrogation Wijeweera volunteered to come forward to address the young generation of the country asking them to give up their aggressive activities. This talk in fact was captured on video. Thereafter Wijeweera consented to allow the police and the army to escort him to the main operations and press centre belonging to the JVP and Deshapremi Janatha Vyaparaya. This was a place located in Colombo district. Wijeweera who spoke to member of the political board of the JVP, H.B. Herath then instructed him to hand over
The following day, that is, at dawn of the 13th, Wijeweera was able to show war activities and media centre of the JVP and Deshapremi Janatha Vyaparaya to the army. Wijeweera who on that occasion spoke to a member of the political board of the JVP, S.B. Herath and instructed him to hand over everything at the headquarters. Herath who handed over some documents to the army, pretending to search for other documents, immediately pulled out a weapon and shot towards Rohana Wijeweera.At that point the army also fired back. During this crossfire, Wijeweera and Herath who were in the midst of the shooting were subjected to injuries and died on the spot. Subsequently the army who took action according to emergency laws cremated the two dead bodies".
Wedding between minister Lakshman Seneviratne's son and senior administrative officer Bradman's daughter
The wedding of minister Lakshman Seneviratne's son Dhanushka and senior administrative officer Bradman's daughter Avanthi's wedding took place in the presence of a large number of politicians recently at Cinnamon Grand hotel.
Dhanushka is in service as an administrative officer while Avanthi is an attorney-at-law. The
president as well as prime minister Ranil graced the occasion with his wife, which was something special.
Underground leader Kosgoda Tharaka who was taken into custody in connection with the exchange of gunfire which ensued in Matara town recently with a police constable being killed in the process when taken to Angunukolapelessa prison, a warm welcome was awaiting him afforded by the inmates of the prison, it is reported. This function was
arranged on orders of underground foremost leader known as 'godfather' in the underground world, it is reported.
When Kosgoda Tharakawas brought to prison, inmates there carried the underground leader on their shoulders, it is understood. It is also reported that Madush has conveyed orders to his henchmen asking them to look after his safety and to see that all his necessities are attended to. However, prison sources denied this incident.
Whatever it is, newspaper reports have been published in this connection. On a query posed to a spokesman in this respect, he had said that steps are being taken to scrutinise cctv cameras at the prison concerned.
Bomb-attack on Zimbabwe president ... while stepping down from stage (video)
Present acting president of Zimbabwe, Emerson Mnangagwa was in the process of stepping down from stage after a political rally on Saturday when a bomb was thrown at him. He has actually had a narrow escape from this unanticipated attack.
After delivering his speech in Bulawayo, the second biggest town in Zimbabwe and was walking
away when this bomb-blast has taken place within the space of just a few seconds and the public as seen in the video are seen running amok in the smoke filled debris in the immediate environment. 15 persons suffered injuries while the condition of 3 of them are noted to be serious, it was reported.
He is a candidate contesting for the forthcoming presidential elections scheduled to be held on July 30th. The president who addressed BBC said that "I would have been dead just an inch away!" His media spokesman confirmed that Emerson Mnangagwa has not been injured in the blast.
There was a rift in the Zanu-Pf party and subsequently after Mugabe who ruled Zimbabwe for a period of 37 years had to leave his position last November in which instance Mnangagwa came into power. In fact it is after 37 years that a Presidential election was held in the year 2018 after democratic election was last held in the year 1980 for the last time. It is the opinion of critics that more preference in the presidential election is for Emerson Mnangagwa who was the victim in this bomb-attack. The video of this bomb-attack, from below
As a result of a sudden accident that took place this morning (26) Sri Lanka time, Kusal Janith Perera of the Sri Lanka team who was in fielding position on the third day of the 3rd Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka, he was admitted to hospital.
When Shanon Gabriel skied a ball from Dilruwan Perera to long-on region in the second innings of West Indies, Kusal Janith Perera tried a vain effort to grab the ball and on that occasion he had crashed onto an advertising hoarding and an ambulance which rushed to the grounds promptly took him to hospital.
Galagodaaththe Gnanasara thero, general secretary of Bodu Bala Senava organisation, it was stated in media reports that he would be making a special revelation after being released and it was held this afternoon. On that occasion he made a controversial speech and even explained mat to he being asked to wear a jumper and also expressed some special opinions.
"Those who hang behind Kapuva's who plead before the god of the dewala called the judiciary have
now even received further benefits. By now, it has come to be understood that those referred to have got appointments before the 14th to assume a leading position connected to the security headquarters of the country.
They asked me to wear the jumper. That is the law. I did not go into conflict with them. Several groups came and made the request. Their duty of course is to make a person guilty by courts and to carry out the duty as stated in the book. That is their job. As such, after this revelation is made, I don't know whether they will have to go home. I will not let that happen. We will appear on behalf of them.
Even after coming out ... I did not make a challenge on the State judiciary. Neither did I violate the bhikku constitution. Therefore, it is the same Gnanasara hero who came out. Even if I am hanged, I will not wear the jumper. I did not get down because I respect them. As a sig of respect I put aside the robe and tied the belt and put the towel over my shoulder".
Wedding of the daughter of well-known announcer Kelum Srimal between Parami and Niran was held recently. It is of special interest to note that their pet dog too found its way into the collection of photos of this wedding ceremony.
Having come to take house on rent ... molests woman in house!
Mattegoda police report an incident where a father of three children had committed sexual assault on a woman who was the owner of the house where the man had come to her house in Pelenwatta area, Pannipitiya on the pretense of buying the said house on rent. The man has been
apprehended.
The person concerned had been earning his bread and butter by engaging in brokering, it is understood. The suspect has come to the house under reference where the victimised woman has displayed a notice of a house for rent belonging to her. The woman in fact was maintaining a trading outlet in the village. When the woman had been explaining relevant information about the room, all of a sudden he had grabbed her and tried to sexually abuse her, according to police. Later having released herself from his grip and jumping out of the house was about to hammer him with an iron pole when the suspect has beat a retreat.
Police say that the following day the suspect has come once again and threatened the woman saying, "we'll see!" if she reports this to police. Anyway, the woman has lodged her complaint with the police. Later on police after making a search in that area had managed to arrest him. The suspect is expected to be produced before Kesbewa court. Future investigations would be carried out under instructions of Mattegoda police officer-in-charge, Mr. Gamini Thilakasiri.
Head prefect assaulted by students of his own school ... passes away!
A student who was the head prefect at Savarana Vidyalaya in Chilaw and was studying in the 11th year was subjected to an assault by a group of other students and was hospitalised after being injured in the incident and had passed away as a result of this assault. The deceased student had been conferred the status of head prefect of the school recently and some others
who envied this position being offered him had been involved in this assault, reports were published.
The said student after having attended a religious session at Savarana Colony mosque last 15th at about 10 in the night had been returning home on a push cycle when four students of year 10 in the same school had knocked off electric bulbs in the vicinity and had brutally kicked him and assaulted him with clubs, it was revealed at inquiries. Police say that they then had threatened him not to divulge this incident to anybody and then taken to their heels.
Because of this threatening he had not told anything about this to his parents. However, as he had complained of a headache and subsequently his condition had become serious in the process, he was admitted to Chilaw hospital. As his condition had aggravated the patient was then admitted to Colombo General Hospital. There a surgical operation was performed on his head and subsequently while receiving treatment at the intensive care unit, he had passed away day-before-yesterday (23) early morning.
The deceased is Mohammed Rizwi Mohommed Faizool (16) studying in Chilaw Savarana Vidyalaya. Teachers of his school say that the deceased student was an outstanding student and took leadership in religious activities apart from taking leadership in social welfare-work and was in the forefront of extra-curricular activities as well. The student concerned has been dedicated to maintain discipline in an exemplary manner among students of the school. It was revealed at investigations that the root cause for this assault had been a case of jealousy.
This is what the deceased's mother Siththi Nafiza said about the incident: "Aiyo ... my child! Wasn't this crime committed because of jealousy! We never thought that a thing like this would be committed for having made him head prefect. What we want is justice".
Juwarieth Umma, grandmother of Faiool described the incident as follows: "This happened on 25th which was the Nombi Day. It was when my grandson wanted to return home after going to mosque that he was hit on the head. A friend of grandson said that he was struck with an 'albisia' pole. That friend was not beaten even once. Before assaulting, they had knocked off lights in the surrounding area. That means these boys have carried out this assault in an organised manner. After being struck and having fallen down they had threatened the other boy not to tell anybody. This assault has been carried out because of jealousy. My grandson is a clever child. At the same time the head prefect of the school. As such these boys who assaulted him were having a big rudge on him. It was my grandson who provided protection to female students".
The post-mortem in this connection was performed day-before-yesterday (23) at Colombo National Hospital. It was mentioned that the cause of death was internal haemmorage because of heavy blows being struck on the head. Before the demise of the student, three students were taken into custody and after being produced before Chilaw magistrate and two of them were given bail while the other was ordered to be under probationary care and thus directed to a children's home.
Kosgoda Tharaka's mother who contested on Alliance ticket ...
hides in toilet when police arrives!
A woman who is supposed to the person under whose name the motor bicycle used in the Matara jewellery shop robbery has been registered and is known to be a resident of Kosgoda, Nanathota has been taken into custody on Friday (22). Police say that she has been identified as the mother of the main suspect in the crime, Kosgoda Tharaka.
It has been confirmed by police inquiries that one of the motor cycles used in the robbery of Matara
Nileka Jewellery shop last Friday (22) in fact was confirmed as belonging to this woman-suspect. A spokesman of Kosgoda police mentioned that it was confirmed across Motor Traffic Department. Kosgoda police say that the suspect-female under reference is the mother of the main suspect in the robbery, underground leader Dharmakirthi Tharaka Perera alias Kosgoda Tharaka and his brother Madhuka Nirmal Perera Wijeseykera (22) living in Nanathota, Kosgoda.
Both the above had sustained serious injuries from police firing and at present are undergoing treatment at Karapitiya Basic Hospital at the intensive care unit. Police had gone to arrest the mother of Kosgoda Tharaka in the evening around 3 o'clock on Friday (22) evening. The moment she has set eyes on the police she had darted inside the house and had closed the door. Though police had tried in vain to speak to her, she has not opened the door, police say. Later the door had been broken down by police. At that moment she had rushed to the bathroom in the house and locked it up. Police say that she was apprehended after breaking down the bathroom door.
This woman-suspect who had been a strong supporter of the SLFP had contested Nanathota provincial division at the Balapitiya provincial council elections held on 10th February 2018 and had lost. This suspect having been produced before Balapitiya additional magistrate day-before-yesterday (23) Mr. Z.P.M. Liyakan was ordered to be remanded till 4th July. It was Agampodi Janaki Priyanthi de Soysa (51) resident at Nanathota Palatha, Kosgoda who was so remanded.
Robbing incident at Nileka Jewellery which shook Matara and the police struggle
In the battle that took place over the robbery which ensued between the underground gang of Kosgoda Tharaka and the police yesterday in Matara at Nileka Jeweleery shop, a police constable died while two other police constables, four persons in all suffered injuries in the gunfire that took place in the process.
When the robbery was taking place, on a call received, the said constable who died had arrived on the scene with some other police constables and had been taking cover at a wall close to the jewellery shop and had been surveying proceedings when the looters who emerged from the other door had
shot him from behind close to his body towards his chest region and thus killed him in that instance. But a moment before that, being feeble he tried to reach the shop in one leg; but later collapses by the roadside.
It was a police constable aged 33 years named Suranga Pradeep Weerasingha (69532) who was attached to criminal investigation unit of Matara police station who passed away in this manner. While among the injured were two in the police force, a bus-conductor and a female. Underworld leader Kosgoda Tharaka including three others of the same gang sustained injuries and had fled after being shot at and when admitted to Galle, Karapitiya hospital were taken into custody. Police also inform that Chamara Indrajith, supposed to be a violent type of underground member was taken into custody while hiding in a house close to Matara Hunukotuwa junction.
Chamara Indrajith who was arrested yesterday was escorted for the purpose of being shown weapons and on that occasion he had attempted to throw a handbomb at the police officers and had been shot at by police; he had thus died this morning 23rd, police say. Among members of the underground who were wounded yesterday is Kosgoda Mahesh, a brother of Kosgoda Tharaka and Anuradhapura Athula, a friend of his, it was reported. The underground members who sustained gun shots may have come to Karapitiya hospital across a by-road from Matara, police assume.
The armed gang of looters had come in a small motor vehicle and barged into Nileka Jewellery shop down Dharmapala Mawatha in Matara around 10.00 in the morning and upon scaring members of the staff there had cornered and locked them up in a small room in the shop and subsequently collected all valuables in the jewellery shop into a bag and thus finished their plan. In the meantime an employee who was confined to the room had managed to contact 119 of Matara police headquarters over a mobile phone he had in his possession and informed about this robbery which was taking place. In these circumstances a team of officers of the crime investigation unit had rushed to the jewellery shop at that very moment.
In the process the looters had opened fire at deceased police constable Mr. Weerasingha and his team mates and had scampered on motor cycles nearby. The robbers as well as policemen suffered injuries in this incident which was similar to a scene from a film with gunfire taking place right round, terrorising the entire location. Though 1 police constable lost his life from gun shots aimed at by the robbers, apart from him a police sergeant and a driver too were wounded, police say. Other than that a woman close to the shop and a conductor of a private bus which was plying on the road at that time had received gunshots. All of them have by now receiving treatment at hospital and a hospital spokesman said that two persons including the bus-conductor are in a serious state. While that bus-conductor was in the bus which was plying to Matara from Kamburupitiya sustained injury in that manner, his wife had entered Matara General Hospital for her second child-birth last morning (21) and as a result of this gun battle ironically he too had to enter hospital.
Constable Suranga Pradeep Weerasingha who died had earlier engaged in Special Task Force and later had joined ordinary police service. His wife happens to be a nurse at Matara General Hospital.
After the robbery at the jewellery shop had turned unsuccessful, the robbers who were fleeing with the aid of a stolen motor cycle which was there when travelling across Matara rail track, it had stopped. They had then scared the people around by shooting at the skies after robbing a push cycle and at that moment officer-in-charge of Matara anti-corruption unit Mr. Udaya Kumara and sergeant Ashoka who were on their way for a raid had observed this. It was in that manner that they had begun to give chase to the three of them. As a consequence the robbers had begun to open fire at that posse of police officers too. The police then managed to knock down the push cycle of the robbers. In the process the push cycle as well as the police cab have fallen into a drain nearby and faced an accident.
A rock stone had been aimed at the head of the robbers who were fleeing after opening gunfire at the police and on that occasion one of those stones had struck a robber on his head. At an operation carried out later the suspect who was struck by that stone was taken into custody hiding in a nearby house. The suspect who had been driving the motor vehicle had after handing them over to the hospital had then fled. The person called Chamara Indrajith when trying to take refuge inside a house at the time police were pursuing him was taken into custody and when on his way to show the location where weapons were hid, had this morning around 7.15 taken a handbomb in the bag and attempted to throw it at the police officers had passed away, it was reported. He tried to fling a handbomb in the bag at the police officers and and therefore they shot at him. He died as a result of injuries he sustained on that occasion after being admitted to hospital", police said.
Seven or eight robbers had come to commit this crime, police suspect. They also believe that the robbers had come on a motor cycle. Police have been successful in apprehending four of them within the space of two hours. All of them had been armed with T 56 weapons and pistols. The magisterial inquiry was expected to be carried out on the body of the police constable who died after being shot at. It is stated in police headquarters announcement that Dharmakirthi Tharaka Pere in a Kongoda house on 29th October 2017 Wijeysekera alias Kosgoda Tharaka was an organised criminal wanted for several crimes. They had been connected to many a crime including shooting and killing the father and two sons at a Kongoda house on 29th October 2017; shooting and killing another person in that area the same day, robbing money from a security guard of a private bank in Attidiya, Galkissa after shooting and killing him and being involved in several crimes. Suspect Chamara Indrajith who died this morning has been involved in a host of cases related to homicide. It is understood that the main suspect involved in the killing of Udammita Samare who himself was an underground leader is this very Chamara Indrajith. It has been revealed from police investigations Chamara Indrajith has been involved in the death of a certain person who died as a result of shooting at a music show held in Attanagalla and the incident of a 54 year old woman being shot dead last May in Veyangoda and her son also being shot at. CCTV displays of the constable and his colleagues who came with him and hiding behind a nearby wall of the jewellery shop surveying activities of the robbers and a robber coming out from another door of the jewellery shop firing the said constable from behind close to the chest, from below
Wife and mother in law murdered saying that child is elder brother's!
Dead bodies of both a mother and her daughter were found last 19th by Hanwella police inside a home in Hanwella area chopped to death.
The murdered were a 68 year old mother and 38 year old daughter with one child. The police managed to find the dead bodies of the these two women in the middle of the hall of the house when
the toddler aged about 2 months of this 38 year old woman had been crying for milk in the house.
The police suspect that this double murder may have happened during night hours and that the murder had been committed by the woman's husband. The deceased were Rupasingha Aarachchige Mary Rani (68) the mother and her daughter Senerath Liyanage Lakmini Shriyakanthi aged 38 years who were so murdered.
"Bandu maama called me and said that the small one in the vicinity of Mary Aachchi's house is continuously crying ... doors of the house too are closed ... just check and see. So later though I took a call to Mary Aachchi, as there was no response I went with two friends and called at her home. Since nobody came out I peeped inside from the grill of the house. Then I saw aachchi and akka lying in a pool of blood. The small one was crying incessantly. Not being able to bear all this anymore I contacted the police and after having broken opened the rear door, managed to admit the child to Kosgama shalawa hospital". This evidence was given by T. Kelum, a resident of the same area who was instrumental in rescuing the 2 month old child who incidentally had been crying cuddled up to the mother after this dual murder.
Both deceased mother and daughter had been engaged as domestic aides abroad, police say. Officers of Mirihana crime detection unit arrived at the scene of murder and carried out investigations in this connection while judicial medical officer of Avissawella basic hospital, Mr. Tikiri Bandara attended to judicial medical duties. After Avissawella acting magistrate Mr. Sarath Jayawardena conducted preliminary on the spot inquiries at the scene of the incident, the corpses were ordered to be taken to Avissawella basic hospital mortuary.
The 26 year old husband of the 38 year old woman so murdered has already fled the area and attention has been focused on him and this suspect is someone who is a mental patient according to information revealed by people in the area, police say. Whatever it is, according to information of the villagers the said woman has in fact got married to a brother of the present husband while her intention had been otherwise. It was also learned that since the day of marriage there had been misunderstandings. He had been quarreling saying that the newly-born baby is not his but his brother's. Police investigations are underway in search of the suspect. The two-month old toddler has been handed over to Panadura Children's Home on an order of Avissawella magistrate.
Leopard which sets its teeth on 10 people in Kilinochchi ...
c by villagers
An incident is reported of a leopard which rushed into the village of Ambalakulam, Kilinochchi yesterday and set its teeth on 10 persons.
This leopard has in fact been on a hunting spree on goats and cattle in the village and as a result of agitation of the villagers the animal had been hiding in a land under cultivation and when Wildlife
officers made an attempt anesthetise the leopard and capture it; even then the leopard has attacked, it was reported. After the victim was hospitalised, the enraged mob had launched an attack on the leopard in which instance it had bitten 9 persons in he process.
In the presence of this agitated situation the villagers had violently attacked the leopard with clubs and killed it. Though Wildlife officers were aware that the killed leopard was an endangered species, when the villagers attacked the animal concerned, they had not intervened, it was reported. The manner in which the leopard was brutally treated even after killing it has been captured on video as seen below
A 24 year old Saudi Arabian campus student by the name of Yaha Alduri who had been engaged on a tour on Mahaweli waters day-before-yesterday (20) having got into a dinghy boat from Marathenna area, Gannoruwa in Kandy had disappeared after the boat toppled. Her body which was carried away by Mahaweli waters in the process was found stuck in a decayed tree yesterday (21),
Katugastota police said.
Katugasthota police say that 8 members of the same family of Saudi Arabia had been inside this inflated boat and the boat had capsized in Warathenna in Gannoruwa along Mahaweli river day-before-yesterday (20) and the deceased 24 year old campus female student of a Kuwait university was among them. the family consisting of four who have come down to Sri Lanka to spend a vacation for approximately a week after a tour of Nuwara Eliya initially, had faced this mishap while on their way to Hambantota across Kandy, it was revealed at preliminary police inquiries.
Soon after the boat capsized, the police life-saving team, the Navy diving unit, officers of Kandy fire rescue operations unit together with villagers had carried on operations for over a period of three hours and in the process they were able to rescue 5 Saudi Arabian males and 2 females and steps were taken to admit them to Kandy general hospital for treatment. In the meantime, police and Navy life-rescue unit who joined in with the villagers yesterday, the 21st morning at 6.15 had after a big operations process managed to find this body stuck under a decayed tree which had drifted along Mahaweli river, police say.
Inquiry into sudden deaths of Kulugammana Siyapaththuwe, Mr. victor V. Weerasekera conducted the inquest into sudden deaths inquiry at a nearby point where the body was recovered. In the meantime, the 33 year old Sri Lankan rafter operator resident at Kadagoda, Kuruvita has had to face inquiries over the allegation of having engaged a foreign group of people in that sport.
An incident is reported where attorney-at-law Mrs. Sugandhika Fernando who was subjected to much sensation during the recent past coming to Marawila court to appear for a case, dressed in a frock over which the lawyer's robe was worn. As a consequence the magistrate had
warned her.
In this instance even the Marawila Lawyers' Association too has disapproved the act of Mrs. Fernando presenting herself at Marawila magistrate court for a court hearing. They had in fact reported this about their disapproval against the attire of this attorney-at-law, through a letter. What Mr. Lalitha Sarathchandra, president of Marawila Lawyers' Association said was that attorney-at-law Mrs. Sugandhika has come several days dressed in a pyjama-type frock and thereby had comported herself by causing disrepute to court.
After courts were made aware of this, additional magistrate, Mr. Keminda Perera has made a statement about her attire. He has informed, "under the 7th clause pertaining to the code of conduct of the judiciary, as an attorney-at-law, she as not come to courts dressed in a suitable manner". Attorney-at-law Mrs. Sugandhika Fernando has accepted her guilt in that connection and bowed down to court and without appearing for other legal cases yesterday had left the courtroom, the lawyers' association had reported.
Whatever it is, when the media queried her about it, though Mrs. Sugandhika Fernando accepted her guilt about the story of going to court dressed in a frock, she has responded saying that there are provisions for it by law and that not appearing for other cases yesterday or that the magistrate warned her was false. She has added that what the magistrate said in that instance was that if she wishes she could make her comments on this and that his court cannot take decisions on this matter.
How Australian mother and daughter die from Expressway accident
An Australian mother and daughter died yesterday after having succumbed to an accident close to Kurundugahahetepma access when they were travelling in a Hi Ace van on Southern Expressway to a hotel in Tangalla area from Katunayaka airport.
Those who had died from the said accident were Australian national Colin Lewis Monica (37) the
mother and her 4 year ld daughter, Poppy Gabriel. While the father and their 2 year old son who are seriously injured are being treated at Nagoda hospital, the driver of the van and the driver of the container are receiving treatment at Elpitiya hospital.
Because of a deflated tyre of a container which had been travelling from Colombo in the direction of Matara, the driver and his helper had parked the container alongside the Southern Expressway near 65.1 km post and had been attending to the problem when the van proceeding towards Matara had crashed onto the rear-side of the container and had toppled.
In this accident the front part of the van was completely damaged while the driver of the container who was engaged in changing the tyre had got thrown under the van and sustained serious injury. He had been subjected to a surgery at Elpitiya hospital, it was reported. Police suspect that the driver of the van may have dozed off and this accident has happened as a result. He has been taken into custody and is undergoing treatment at Elpitiya hospital. It has also been observed at investigations that the said van had been travelling at a rapid pace at that moment, exceeding the limits. After the van had struck the container, the container has got pushed forward from the impact, police say. It is understood that even by the time the victims, mother and daughter were admitted to Nagoda hospital, they had already passed away. Investigations are being conducted in connection with the issue of changing tyres on the expressway without due permission.
