Carnage at Weliweriya:

Eight women among 10 killed in van-lorry collision

by Sarath Malalasekera

Ten people including eight women were killed and five others seriously injured in a van-lorry collision in Weliweriya late Saturday night.

The two children injured in the accident were warded at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital while two others are warded at the Colombo National Hospital.

One of the injured victims is warded at the Gampaha Hospital, Police said.

The cleaner of the lorry who was also injured had been rushed to the Colombo National Hospital, police said.

The special police squad of Weliweriya Police deployed by Western Province North DIG Asoka Wijeytilleke arrested the lorry driver who escaped soon after the incident. He was arrested hiding in a hut in the Weliweriya police area.

According to ASP Sanjeewa Dharmaratne of Gampaha Police Division conducting investigations, the van which was returning from Anuradhapura after a religious ceremony collided with the lorry coming on the wrong side at the 'Suruwama Junction' Weliweriya.

The lorry driver will be produced before Gampaha Magistrate after recording his statement, ASP Dharmaratne said.

Inspector Bopitiya, acting OIC, Weliweriya Police is assisting in the investigations.