Two men drowned after a makeshift raft carrying a group of visitors capsized in the Loggalla Oya Reservoir in Ridimaliyadda on Sunday (28).
According to the reports, the victims, aged 40 and 48, were residents of Katugastota and Poojapitiya in Kandy.
A group of 33 people from Kandy had visited a tourist site operating under the guise of a farm within the Loggalla Oya reservoir reserve to celebrate a birthday.
After the celebration, 11 people, including three children, boarded a makeshift raft made by tying two small boats together to swim on a small island in the middle of the reservoir.
The raft broke apart and overturned as the group returned to shore, throwing the passengers into the water.
Investigations revealed that the two victims were not wearing life jackets and drowned after being swept underwater. Their bodies were recovered on Monday (29) following a search operation conducted by Police and local residents.
The Acting Mahiyanganaya Magistrate visited the scene and ordered that the bodies be referred to the Judicial Medical Officer for post-mortem examinations. Arawa Police is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)