Ferry tragedy: Kinniya UC Chairman arrested, Lanza clashes with Mujibar over approval

November 25, 2021 at 4:31 PM

The Chairman of the Kinniya Urban Council has been arrested over the ferry tragedy that occurred in the Kuringankerni lagoon on Tuesday (23).

The Kinniya Police arrested H.S. M. Naleem over the incident in which six people, including four schoolchildren, had died. 

He was arrested following investigations conducted by the Kinniya Police into the tragedy. 

The owner of the ferry and two operators have been remanded till 08th of December, while another individual who had collected fares from the passengers has also been arrested. 

Following the tragedy, State Minister Nimal Lanza informed Parliament that all Government institutions had rejected permission for the ferry service to be operated in Kinniya. 

He further said that, however, the Chairman of the Kinniya Urban Council Naleem had issued a permit to an individual to transport passengers across the Kuringankerni lagoon.

Meanwhile, State Minister Nimal Lanza and Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman today clashed in Parliament over the approval that was granted to operate the ferry service in the Kuringankerni lagoon. (NewsWire)