Police pay last respects to drowned colleagues

Sandasen Marasinghe

The Police Department will pay their respects to the Officer-in-Charge of the Kalawana Police IP Sarath Gamhewa and the other two officers who died on duty when their jeep fell into the Kukuleganga river on Tuesday evening, Police Spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said.

The Police Spokesman told the Daily News that the group of four were on their way to the Police Station after an investigation into a complaint. Sub Inspector Y.A. Gunapala and Police sergeant N. U. Sirimanne were drowned in the accident.

The driver of the jeep Police Sergeant G. Thushara Dharmasena were also rescued by the people in the area and is still being treated at the Ratnapura Hospital.

The river was 30 feet deep and the jeep was taken out yesterday. The postmortems of the officers were held yesterday. Police said that the jeep fell in the river at Koswatte on the Weddagala road in Kalawana around 6.15 pm.

The police party have gone to investigate a robbery and arrest the thieves. But they had not been able to arrest them. After the jeep fell in the river people have attempted to pull the officers and the jeep out of the river. Only the four were taken out on Tuesday evening. The jeep could not be taken as the river was deep.

IP Sarath Ganhewa (47) of Kumarathunga Mawatha, Nupa, Matara served 20 years in the Police. He was married to L.P.K. Diluka Nimali and was the father of Hansee Nirangee (14) and Aseh Shanuka (08). His funeral will be held on August 14. Sub Inspector Y.A. Gunapala (57) of Weddagala, Kalawana joined the Police 34 years ago. He was married to Sheela Mangalika and father of Pradeep Madushanka (26), Kanchana Pradeep Madushanka (21) Geethaka Kalingu (19). His funeral will be held on August 13.

Police Sergeant N. Upul Sirimanne (48) of Oliyadeniya Estate, Pidurangala road, Kiriella has a service of 26 years in the Police. He was married to Sujatha Chandrakanthi and was the father of Nishath Aravinda (19) and Ruwan Kavindu (11).

The only survivor Dharmasena is a father of three.