Fatal accident on the central expressway

By Pushpakumara Mallawarachchi   

A lecturer of the Kelaniya University died and six others including his wife and children were seriously injured in a fatal accident at Boyawalana on the Central Expressway at midnight on Tuesday (18).   

The victim Dr. N.D.Gunendra Gayantha (45) was a senior lecturer at the Kelaniya University and a resident of Makola South.   

The injured were admitted to the Meerigama base hospital and four of them in critical condition transferred to the Colombo National Hospital and another to the Wathupitiwala Base Hospital.  

 Investigations revealed that they were on their way back after a visit to Jaffna when their van hit the rear of a preceding lorry. A group of Sri Lankan expatriates from England on a visit to Sri Lanka travelling from Kurunegala to Meerigama in a passing by vehicle had rushed to the scene and helped to admit the injured to the Meerigama base hospital. However, Dr. Gayantha had been pronounced dead on admission.   

The lorry and the van involved in the accident were brought to the Meerigama police last morning.  

Sergeant 68427 Karunaratne of Meerigama police and Sergeant 8612 of the Hospital Police and the Central Expressway Traffic Police are conducting a separate investigation.