Argument in Dansala queue ends in assault: Five arrested

Colombo, July 1 (Daily Mirror) - Five suspects have been arrested after a young man was allegedly assaulted outside a Poson Dansala in Malabe, following an incident that was widely circulated on social media.

According to the police, the assault occurred near a rice Dansala in Malabe town on Poson Poya Day. A video of the attack, showing a group of individuals repeatedly assaulting the victim with their hands, feet, and motorcycle helmets, quickly went viral online, prompting public concern.

Police said a complaint was lodged at the Malabe Police Station on June 30, 2026, after which officers launched an investigation that led to the arrest of five suspects.

The suspects are all residents of the Kaduwela area and are aged between 16 and 17 years.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident stemmed from an argument in a queue at the Dansala. The dispute allegedly began when a person waiting in line objected to two individuals attempting to bypass the queue, leading to a confrontation that later escalated into the assault.

The five suspects are due to be produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court on Wednesday (July 1), while Malabe Police continue investigations to identify and arrest the remaining individuals allegedly involved in the attack.