Kinniya Tragedy: Ill-fated Ferry had capsized before - Victim's father

COLOMBO (News 1st); The ill-fated ferry, that capsized in the Kinniya Lagoon, resulting in the deaths of six people including children, had capsized before, alleged the father of two victims.

"Earlier, it capsized when a vehicle was being transported. It was taken away, repaired and brought back to the same location," said the devastated father of two, alleging that it was the Kinniya Mayor who had granted permission for the ferry to operate.

Nufaz, a father who held back tears while speaking exclusively to News 1st, lost both his daughters, aged 6 and 8, in tragedy on Tuesday (23).

He also told News 1st that, both his daughters left for school early on Tuesday (23) as the principals had told them to do so.

"Both of them woke up at 5:30, and when leaving home, they said they are going, rather than saying they'll be back," he said.

"Both of them were found embracing each other," he recalled the moment the two bodies were pulled out of the water, saying that whatever his daughters did, they did it together.