Motorist veers into the Mahaweli

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

A person died after the car he was driving reportedly veered off the highway near Polgolla Dam in Katugastota and plunged into the Mahaweli River yesterday morning. Police said the accident had taken place at Dutugamunu Mawatha in Polgolla, Kandy. The car was found submerged in the river.

The Police together with the people in the area pulled the vehicle out of the river by using ropes. Police said the body of a man, supposedly the person who drove it, was also recovered from the river. The body has been identified as that of Wijekoon Mudiyanselage Nayanajith Wijekoon, 36, Police said.

“There were no eye witnesses to the incident,” a police officer said. “The incident was informed to us by a person who saw the car sinking in the river.”

“We learned about the accident at 9.30am,” he said.

Asked if Wijekoon had drowned, Police said they are yet to determine the cause of death as well as the accident.

“We are still to find where he had been going, whether he fell asleep while he was driving,” the police said.

Kandy Police are investigating.