Five die, three missing in double boat tragedy at Mannar sea
Five people – four from one family -- were drowned and three reported missing in two boat tragedies off the Mannar coast yesterday afternoon amid choppy seas and gusty winds.
One of the boats transporting 18 people going on a picnic capsized in Musali while a smaller fishing vessel sank off Mullikulam in the Mannar area.
Thirteen of the people travelling in the picnic boat were rescued. The drowned were a Navy sailor’s wife Champika Shiromini, 36, their four-year-old daughter Ranuriya, his sister-in-law Chathurya Subhashini, 19 and aunt Lalani, 44. The fifth victim was a neighbour, identified as retired businessman Dayananda Perera, 66. All were residents of Dutugemunu Mawatha, Thalangama.
Neighbours said last night that the victims had joined a group from Dutugemunu Mawatha on a trip to Wilpattu National park, but the boat ride was not included in their original plan.
“It was a suddenly organised trip. There was no proper planning. Several families in the area got together and left on Friday. They were to return today,” one resident said.
Puttalam city Corner Nandana Wimalaratna visited the Mullipuram Navy camp where the bodies were initially brought for an inquiry. He was told that the ill-fated boat was overloaded. When the tragedy occurred, the boat which was meant for eight people had 18 — 13 people who had come on the trip, four sailors and the boatman.
The condition of one of the rescued was serious and he was being treated at the Puttalam hospital.
and for low-income groups who will be moved out for development projects in Colombo.
The project would enable the Government to secure 400 acres after the Railway workers and the low income groups are resettled in the apartments. The Pakistani company would also build a shopping complex.
Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told the Sunday Times the award of the contract to the Pakistani company showed that Sri Lanka did not attract investments only from one or two countries.