Electricity Board employee electrocuted to death at the pole

A person attached to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) died on the morning of the 26th due to a power pole falling and electrocution in the Hemmathagama Thalgaspitiya area. The deceased has been identified as Galewalage Kingsley Walter Kingsley, a 44-year-old married man residing in Habalakkawa, Thalgaspitiya area.

Hemmathagama police investigations have revealed that this person, an employee of the Mawanella Electricity Board office, had not reported for duty on the day the accident occurred.

This accident occurred in the paddy field named Dippitiya Thalgaspitiya Uduwalduwa. At the time of the incident, someone in a house in the area heard screams and, upon investigation, saw a fallen power pole and a person lying electrocuted. They then informed the police and the Electricity Board. Preliminary investigations conducted by the police at the scene revealed that the person in question had climbed the power pole and cut a supply wire as well as an aluminum wire, causing the pole to fall simultaneously. It was also observed that a piece of wood was tied horizontally across the fallen power pole.

After reporting the facts regarding this matter to the Mawanella District Magistrate's Court, Acting Magistrate R. M. Dilani Chandrika Ranawana visited the scene of the incident and conducted an on-site inspection. Afterwards, she ordered the police to take the body to Kegalle Teaching Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Under the instructions of Kegalle Divisional Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr. Wasantha Alahakoon, and under the direction of Hemmathagama Acting OIC Police Inspector Mr. Saman Kumara, Police Sergeants Pushpakumara (27198), Amarawansa (45799), Upali (9045), and Police Constable Nadeesha (86224) are conducting further investigations into this matter.