30 September 2014 08:17 am
By Muditha Dayananada
The body of a schoolboy was recovered last morning from the Undurugoda Maha-ela canal in the Kahatuduwa police area. It was identified as that of Hashan Vimukthi Lokuliyana (14) of Jayaliyagama, Polgasovita. He was a student of Pilyandala Dharmaraja Vidyalaya. His mother had lodged a complaint with the Kahatuduwa police that he left home in the morning but did not return. One of his friends, who met him last, stated to police that Hashan was on his way home when he met him.
However, under further interrogation he revealed that he with Hashan and two other school mates went for a bath in the Maha-ela canal after enjoying a beer.
He further stated that Hashan got into trouble and raised his hands asking for help. But no one dared to swim deeper into the canal to save him. According to him, he and the others left the scene after Hashan disappeared. Frightened by the incident, they buried Hashan’s clothes in the tank bund.Police recorded the statements of the other two young men, searched for the body with the help of Navy divers. During investigations police recovered the clothes that had been buried in the canal bund.Kesbewa Magistrate Chamath Madanayake visited the scene and held the preliminary magisterial inquiry and ordered the police to refer the body for autopsy.
Sergeants Perera (26612), Jayalal and PCs Silva (50200) and Rupasiri are conducting further investigations under directives of Kahatuduwa acting police OIC, IP Udaya Shantha.