SLBC announcer killed in car crash

Ridma Dissanayake, Amila Prabath Wanasinghe and Sampath Sanjeewa

A director cum announcer of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) Nooraniya Fouzul Hassen (48) died yesterday morning in a motor accident on the A9 Road in the Rambawa area in Anuradhapura. Five others were injured. Two other employees of the SLBC are in a critical condition. The injured were admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

According to Police, the van carrying a media team of the SLBC collided with a lorry transporting paddy near the police checkpoint in Rambawa. Hassen had earlier served Lake House.

The lorry was on its way to Vavuniya from Mihinthale while van was traveling to Jaffna from Colombo. The driver of the lorry was also injured.

The Police suspect that the the driver of the van may have fallen asleep at the time of the mishap. Mihinthalaya Police are conducting further investigations under the directions of Mihinthalaya Police OIC Chief Inspector Sujeewa Siriwardena.