Van-tractor accident kills 5, injures 12

Five persons including four women were killed while another twelve were injured following a collision between a van and a tractor at Welikanda on the Batticaloa-Polonnaruwa Road in the early hours of today, police said.

They said the accident occurred at 1.45 a.m near the 89th-kilometre post at Kolakanawadiya, Maradankadawala in Wellikanda.

The tractor was travelling from Manampitiya to Welikanda carrying 17 people while the van was travelling towards the same direction and met with the accident while the van was attempting to overtake the tractor.

Video by Nimal Jayaratne and Damith