Brigade Commander killed in crash

Rafik JALALDEEN

Commander of the 611 Brigade stationed in Madhu, Colonel Palihakkara Amarasekera was killed in a road accident in Thorayaya, Kurunagela yesterday morning. Three soldiers and the driver of the Army cab were injured in the incident. Police spokesman Senior DIG Nimal Mediwake said an Army cab with the Colonel and three other soldiers attempted to overtake a police truck heading from Dambulla to Kurunegala when the mishap occurred near 41st mile post in Kurunegala around 2.45am. “The Army cab which was following the police truck had attempted to overtake the truck when a bus coming in the opposite direction had tried to avoid the crash. The Army cab had swerved and slammed into the police truck”, he added. The Army cab toppled after it collided with the rear of the police truck.

The Colonel who was rushed to the Kurunegala hospital succumbed to his injuries.

Three other soldiers and driver of the Army cab were treated in the Kurunegala hospital.