Two tragic incidents claim nine lives in a single day

• Six men from Waikkala in Wennappuwa died in the early hours of yesterday, allegedly after consuming illicit liquor
• A family tragedy in the Galenbindunuwewa area claimed three lives after a house was set on fire

By Jude Samantha, Dayaratne Embogama and B. G. Chaturanga

Nine people lost their lives in two separate tragic incidents reported from Wennappuwa and Galenbindunuwewa within a single day yesterday, police said.  

In the first incident, six men from Waikkala in Wennappuwa died in the early hours of yesterday, allegedly after consuming illicit liquor. The deceased were identified as Ranasinhge Mudiyanselage Wasantha Ranasinghe (53) of Pothanegama, Anuradhapura, an employee at a grinding mill in Waikkala; Sathyamuruthi Kowalaselvam (28) of Diagama; Asrippuge Ranjith Fernando (60) of Pelmadulla; Kariyawasam Hewage Jayantha (56) of Makola; and W. Jude Prachath Nishantha (53) of Waikkala. The identity of the sixth victim had not been confirmed at the time of reporting.  

Police said three other individuals who had also consumed the illicit liquor were admitted to the Negombo General Hospital in critical condition. Investigations revealed that all the victims were addicted to illicit liquor and had consumed alcohol from an illegal liquor den in the area. A woman alleged to be operating the illicit liquor den has been arrested, and Wennappuwa Police are conducting further investigations.  

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a family tragedy in the Galenbindunuwewa area claimed three lives after a house was set on fire, sending shockwaves across the area. The victims were identified as Prachasha Sandamali Jayawardene (36), her husband Saman Auruddha Pradeepriya (43), and their 13-year-old daughter, Dimalska Jayashani Pradeepriya. All were residents of Nuwaragama Colony, Galenbindunuwewa.  

Investigations revealed that the husband had allegedly set the house on fire and was himself trapped in the blaze, resulting in his death along with his wife and daughter. Three others — the couple’s other daughter and son, and the woman’s 66-year-old mother — sustained serious burn injuries while attempting to extinguish the fire and rescue those inside. They were admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital in critical condition, hospital sources said.