මීගොඩ දන්සැල් අනතුරින් මියගිය එකම පවුලේ 4 දෙනා

Six people have died in a horrific road accident near a 'dansala' (alms-giving stall) held on High-Level Road, Meegoda, on account of Vesak Poya. It is reported that four close relatives from the same family are among the deceased. This tragedy occurred when a speeding cab crashed into a crowd queuing at a 'roti dansala' operating near Beddegama Mulla Junction in Meegoda.

Seven other individuals who were injured in the accident are currently hospitalized and receiving treatment.

The four members of the same family who died in this unfortunate incident were residents of Palliya Road, Wewala, Piliyandala. They are P.B. Indrani, the 56-year-old mother; her 35-year-old daughter, Naveesha Nilakshi; her 38-year-old son-in-law, Lasika Priyankara Nanayakkara, who served in the army; and Indrani's brother's 15-year-old daughter, Maleesha Sathsarani, who was studying in Grade 10 at Piliyandala Samarakoon Vidyalaya.

The deceased daughter and son-in-law resided in the Avissawella area and had visited the parents' house in Piliyandala last Saturday. Afterwards, Mrs. Indrani and her husband began a journey in a three-wheeler to drop them back at their home in Avissawella, after enjoying the Vesak festivities. During this journey, the three-wheeler was stopped in the Meegoda area, and the passengers went to a roti dansala located by the roadside.

Mrs. Indrani's husband, who was driving the three-wheeler at the time of the accident, and the daughter's eldest child remained inside the vehicle and thus escaped unharmed. However, Mrs. Naveesha, along with her 18-month-old infant, husband, mother, and cousin sister, faced this horrific accident while queuing at the dansala.

Police stated that the cab, which was traveling from Avissawella towards Colombo, ran over approximately 13 people who were in the dansala queue on the left side of the road and continued driving without stopping. Following the accident, two police constables on traffic duty at Godagama Junction, Homagama, were alerted about the fleeing cab, which led to the arrest of the cab and its driver at Godagama Junction. After the suspect driver underwent a breathalyzer test, it was confirmed that he was heavily under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, and he is scheduled to be produced before the Homagama Magistrate's Court.

Meanwhile, commenting on the incident, Deputy Inspector General of Police W.P.J. Senadheera, who is in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, stated that this accident is considered to have been caused intentionally. Accordingly, steps will be taken to implement the maximum possible penalties against the driver, and the Deputy Inspector General further emphasized that necessary measures will be taken to prosecute the suspect in court under charges of murder instead of a regular road accident.