Five people travelling in a van were killed and 22 others injured in a head-on collision between the van and a private bus at the Dummaladeniya Junction on the Warakapola-Colombo road early this morning.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said among those killed were the van driver and a two-year-old girl. The van with the load of passengers was travelling from Samanthurai to the Passport Office in Colombo to apply for travel documents for a pilgrimage Mecca.

ASP Gunasekera said the tragedy had occurred when the van had attempted to recklessly overtake another vehicle.

The private bus was carrying passengers from Colombo to Kalmunai on a pilgrimage

The ASP said the injured were admitted to the Kegalle and Wathupitiwala hospitals. (Chaturanga Pradeep)




Video by Rohan Kumara