Police have arrested five suspects aged 16 and 17 in connection with the assault of a youth near a Dansala in Malabe town on Poson Poya Day (29).

The arrests were made yesterday following a complaint lodged with the Malabe Police regarding a video circulating on social media that showed the youth being attacked with helmets, kicked, and punched. 

The suspects, residents of Kotalawala, Pattiyawatte Road, were taken into custody the same day.

Preliminary investigations revealed the incident stemmed from a dispute in a queue at a rice Dansala.

The victim had asked two individuals attempting to cut into the line to move to the end, which escalated into a violent confrontation.

The arrested suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court today (01). 

The Malabe Police said further investigations are underway to apprehend additional individuals involved in the assault. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police have sought assistance from the public to locate three suspects wanted in connection with the tragic death of six persons after a cab drove into a group of people waiting in a queue at a Dansal in Meegoda on May 31.

The incident occurred along the Avissawella–Colombo High Level Road near the Meegoda Junction, leaving six dead and seven others seriously injured. 

The driver was arrested and produced before the Homagama Magistrate’s Court on June 01 and has since been remanded until June 16.

Investigations revealed that three other individuals were travelling in the cab at the time of the accident. The Police said the men fled the vehicle when the driver was taken into custody. 

Two special investigation teams have been deployed to track them down, and the public has been urged to assist in identifying the suspects.

Details of the suspects released by the Police:

• Aththanayakege Don Wasantha, No. 243/D, Kudamaduwa, Siddamulla, Piliyandala (registered owner of the cab).
• S.K. Kumara alias Sellamuttu Sellakumar, No. 342/D, Pelanwatta, Pannipitiya.
• Don Sarath Hettige, No. 337/07, Pelanwatta, Pannipitiya.

The Police urged anyone with information to contact Meeegoda Police Station OIC at 071-8592179 or the OIC Traffic at 077-9494188. (Newswire)

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The Australian High Commission in Colombo today hosted a Vesak Dansal, serving iced lattes to the public on Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7.

High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth personally handed out the drinks as part of the Vesak tradition.

Crowds gathered at the mission’s premises to take part in the Dansal, which marked a symbolic gesture of goodwill during the Buddhist festival. (Newswire/ Images- Ranga Srilal)

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The driver involved in the fatal accident at a Vesak Dansal in Meegoda has been remanded until June 16.

The 42‑year‑old double‑cab driver was produced before the Homagama Magistrate’s Court today, following Sunday night’s tragedy in which seven people were killed and seven others injured.

Police said the accident occurred on the High Level Road in the Meegoda Police Division when a cab travelling from Avissawella towards Colombo attempted to overtake a lorry, swerved left, and ploughed into a crowd queuing at the Dansal.

The injured were rushed to Homagama Hospital, where four members of the same family and three others, including a teenage girl, were pronounced dead upon admission. The victims were residents of Hanwella, Avissawella, and Piliyandala.

Officers on duty at Meegoda Junction swiftly arrested the suspect and seized the cab as he allegedly tried to flee. Police confirmed the driver was intoxicated, lacked a valid driving licence, and was operating a vehicle with expired documents.

The suspect, a resident of Piliyandala, has been remanded until June 16 as investigations continue. (Newswire)

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The Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) says nearly 15,000 dansal have been registered across Sri Lanka for Vesak Poya, it was reported.

According to reports, PHIU Secretary Chamil Muthukuda said registration remains open.

Muthukuda urged organizers to follow proper health‑safety procedures, noting several communicable diseases have been reported in different regions. (Newswire)

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The Director General of Health Services, Specialist Dr. Asela Gunawardena, has instructed that all dansal organized across Sri Lanka for the upcoming Vesak festival must be registered with the office of the Medical Officer of Health in the relevant area.

The directive aims to ensure that the public is provided with safe, clean, and quality food during the festival. 

Organizers are advised to meet their area’s Medical Officer of Health or Public Health Inspector to obtain necessary health guidance and complete the required registration.

Health authorities stressed that the measure is part of broader efforts to safeguard public health during large‑scale community events, ensuring food safety standards are maintained. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has announced it will conduct a two-day vehicle tuning dansal, in collaboration with the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative. 

The two-day vehicle tuning dansal will be held today (15 May) and tomorrow (16 May), in front of the DMT office in Narahenpita from 09.30 am to 03.00 pm. 

The initiative, organized by the Motor Transport Commissioner’s Department of Motor Vehicle Emissions Trust Fund, offers free tuning services for motorcycles and three-wheelers. (Newswire)

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The Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) has announced that all dansals organized for this year’s Vesak festival must be registered by 09 May.

Accordingly, organizers of all dansals are required to register with their nearest Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office. 

The PHIU further stated that additional information can be obtained from the nearest Public Health Inspector offices.

During the Vesak season, around 3,000 Public Health Inspectors will be deployed across the country to inspect dansals, food stalls, hotels, and mobile food vendors, the PHIU added. (Newswire)

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