News 1st journalist Ruchira Abeymanne killed in tragic accident

COLOMBO (News 1st): News 1st's Ratnapura Correspondent Ruchira Abeymanne passed away last night (Feb 3) in a tragic motor accident. The accident took place at the New Town area in Ratnapura. He met with the accident while travelling on his motorcycle on the Ratnapura-Colombo main road. According to the Police, the motorcycle collided with an SUV and a lorry near the Rubber Development Department. A heated situation arose after the Police attempted to remove the SUV from the location. An individual who witnessed the accident told News 1st that everyone in the SUV were possibly drunk and that they ran away following the crash. "The SUV was speeding from the Ratnapura side overtaking the vehicles. The motorcyclist was traveling towards the Ratnapura direction. He collided with the SUV and when the SUV took a sharp turn to the right, he was run over by the SUV. The SUV came in very fast. 4 people were inside the vehicle. I think they were all drunk. They all ran away after the crash so we couldn't find them." - Witness A suspect, who has admitted being the driver of the SUV, has been arrested regarding the incident. He was produced before court and was remanded till the 6th of March. Ruchira Rohan Abeymanne was 47 years old and a father of 2 children at the time of his demise. He was a graduate of the University of Kelaniya -and was working as a Development Officer at the Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat Office. Ruchira was an active journalist in the News 1st family and was loved by many in the area. He was reporting for the people -going to the depths of the Ratnapura District. He was able to get the attention of the authorities on many public matters and irregularities committed on the people. His remains lie at his residence in Baranduwa, Lellopitiya. The final rites will be carried out on Wednesday (Feb 6).

Ruchira, may you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.