Female dead body in Minneriya Lake

The body of a fifty-five-year-old mother of three was found yesterday (30) morning in a spill canal located in the Rathmale area, which carries water from Minneriya Wewa to Kaudulla Wewa. The deceased has been identified as a woman residing in the Maharatmale area of Minneriya, and the police suspect that she may have drowned.

The woman had left her home the day before yesterday morning, stating that she was going for a bath. As she did not return home for a long time, worried family members and residents jointly conducted an extensive search around the spill canal where she reportedly went to bathe. However, they were unable to find any trace of her until the evening of the day before yesterday.

However, yesterday morning, when a farmer from the Rathmale area descended into this spill canal to draw water for his crops using a water pump, he saw the body floating near a tree. He then informed the residents and the Minneriya Police. Accordingly, the life-saving officers of the Minneriya Police, with the assistance of the residents, immediately acted to recover the body.

This incident is currently presumed to be a death by drowning, and the body was to be taken to Polonnaruwa General Hospital for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause. Further investigations into the incident are being conducted by Police Sergeant Herath, under the instructions of Minneriya Police Station OIC, Chief Police Inspector Pitigala.