Search continues for victim missing in Badulla – Mahiyangana accident

A search is underway to find a school teacher who remains missing after a car toppled into the Viyana Canal in Mahiyanganaya at 7.30 a.m. today, February 26. The vehicle carrying four passengers was travelling from Bandarawela to Mahiyanganaya, when it toppled into the canal in the 17 Ela area. Three school teachers and a private bank employee are believed to have been in the car. Three of the victims were immediately rescued by life guards and residents. The victims are teachers of the Tissapura Vidyalaya. They were admitted to the Mahiyanganaya Teaching Hospital with minor injuries. The missing teacher has been identified as Nalin Kariyawasam, a resident of Welimada. On November 23, 2017, a motor accident in the same area killed three people of the same family after the vehicle they were travelling in fell into the canal. Locals in the area say though measures have been initiated to construct a safety fence, it is yet to be completed.

"They have only completed half of it. They say only that part would be constructed. But if they installed a safety fence to the bend as well, there wouldn't be accidents," pointed out a resident.