Two killed in Matara Defender accident - two others seriously injured

The number of fatalities in the fatal road accident that occurred yesterday (19) afternoon in the Wellamadam area on the Tangalle - Matara main road has increased to two, with another person succumbing to injuries. This unfortunate incident occurred around 3:50 PM when a Defender jeep traveling from Matara towards Tangalle collided head-on with a lorry carrying cement, which was traveling from Tangalle towards Matara.

At the time of the accident, five people were traveling in the Defender vehicle, and two people, including the driver and assistant, were in the lorry. Due to the severe collision, all seven individuals traveling in both vehicles were injured and hospitalized, and two of them have since died.

The individuals who unfortunately lost their lives are 37-year-old Wedamulla Kankanamge Dinesh Udayanga, a resident of Wewahamanduwa, Matara, who was driving the Defender, and 36-year-old S.M.V. Subhash, a resident of Hittetiya Meda, Matara, who was also traveling in the same vehicle.

Hospital sources confirm that the condition of two other injured individuals from the incident remains critical. Preliminary investigations conducted by the police have revealed that the Defender vehicle involved in the accident was rented by this group of young men for one day.

Both the Defender and the lorry sustained severe damage in the accident, and further investigations into the incident are being conducted by officers of the Matara Police Station.