Two white people are hanging from a neem tree in the Bodhi tree precinct of the Matara temple.

The bodies of two foreign nationals, hanging from a Kohomba tree in front of the Bodhi Maluwa (Bodhi tree shrine) of a temple in Palolpitiya, Thihagoda, Matara area, were discovered on the afternoon of the 16th. A group of local residents who had come to the temple for religious activities saw these bodies and immediately informed the Thihagoda Police.

The deceased are a 57-year-old French national and a 52-year-old Scottish national. The two had been staying at a tourist resort in Gurubebila, Midigama, Weligama area, and had left the resort that morning, stating they were going to the Hambantota area.

A pair of shoes, a motorcycle helmet, and a Scooty-type motorcycle were taken into police custody near the scene of the incident. Investigations conducted using the number of the motorcycle revealed that it had been rented from the Weligama area.

Preliminary investigations suspect that the two foreigners committed suicide, and the reason for them taking such a decision has not yet been revealed. Post-mortem examinations of the bodies are scheduled to be conducted, and the Thihagoda Police are conducting further investigations under the instructions of Senior Superintendent of Police Wasantha Kumara, who is in charge of the Matara Division.