Four people who went on a factory trip drowned in the Ma Oya while bathing.

A tragic accident occurred when a group of employees from a private institution went to bathe in the Ma Oya at Peragasmanakada, Badalgama, Divulapitiya, resulting in a young man and three young women drowning. This unfortunate incident was reported around 2:00 PM on September 19, 2026.

Investigations revealed that while a group, including three young women and a young man, were bathing in an unsafe spot in the Ma Oya, one young woman drowned. In an attempt to rescue her, the other three were also caught in the current and subsequently went missing.

Upon receiving information about the incident, Badalgama police officers and local residents launched a special search operation. Initially, the bodies of two individuals were found, and after a prolonged operation, the team successfully recovered the bodies of all four who had drowned and gone missing.

The unfortunate victims were residents from the Badulla and Haputale areas who worked at a factory in Badalgama. The deceased young man was a 25-year-old resident of Ohiya, while the three deceased young women, aged 19, 20, and 28, were residents of Demodara.

The bodies have been placed in the mortuary at Negombo Hospital for post-mortem examinations, and Badalgama Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.