5 June 2021 09:47 am
A Sub Inspector of Police attached to the Hatton Police was killed and six others including three police officers were injured, when a van escorting a hearse carrying a COVID-19 body to Oddamavadi in Batticaloa for burial, was skidded off the road and toppled at Watawala on the Hatton - Ginigathhena Road this morning.
Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said that the body of a 79-year old Muslim woman was being transported at around 7 a.m today from Hatton when the accident occurred near the 59th mile-post.
A sergeant, two constables, two civilians and the driver of the van were travelling along with the SI and they were admitted to the Watawala Hospital.
However, the spokesman said another team from Ginigathhena Police had been sent to provide security to the hearse carrying the body of COVID-19 woman to the Oddamavadi.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and Hatton Ranjith)