The owner of the cab involved in the fatal Meegoda Junction crash that killed six people and injured seven others, along with another suspect, has been remanded until June 16.

Police said the two suspects surrendered to the Meegoda Police through an attorney this morning and were later arrested.

The crash occurred on the Avissawella–Colombo High Level Road within the Meegoda Police Division when a cab allegedly ploughed into a group of people waiting in line at a Vesak Dansala.

Six people died in the incident, while seven others sustained serious injuries.

The cab driver was arrested shortly after the crash and produced before the Homagama Magistrate’s Court on June 1. He was remanded until June 16.

Furhter investigations revealed that three other individuals had been travelling in the cab at the time of the incident. Police said the suspects fled the scene after the driver was taken into custody.

On Friday, police appealed to the public for assistance in locating the three suspects and released their photographs and details. Two of the suspects have since surrendered and been remanded, while investigations continue to locate the remaining individual. (Newswire)

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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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Sri Lanka Police announced today that the driver involved in last night’s fatal accident in Meegoda will face the maximum criminal charges, including murder.

A Senior Police Officer told the media that investigations revealed the 42‑year‑old suspect had knowingly caused the accident. 

“He could have prevented the deaths, but didn’t do so. Drivers who do not listen and drive under the influence will be facing charges of murder,” he warned.

The incident occurred when a double-cab travelling from Avissawella attempted to overtake a lorry. Blocked by an oncoming vehicle, the cab swerved left and crashed into a Dansal, running over people waiting in line. Seven were killed and seven others were injured in the tragedy.

The cab sped away but was intercepted at a checkpoint in Godagama. 

The Senior Police Officer said that the Police confirmed the driver was intoxicated, did not possess a valid driving licence, and was operating a vehicle with expired documents. 

The vehicle’s owner, who was inside at the time, was removed from the scene, he said, adding that legal action will be taken against him as well.

The Senior Police Officer further said that the suspect will undergo a medical examination before being produced before the Homagama Magistrate’s Court today. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police have arrested a suspect, along with the firearm and vehicle used in the shooting in Meegoda yesterday, in which a former member of the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha, Shantha Mudunkotuwa, was killed. 

According to the Police, soon after the shooting last afternoon, the Meegoda Police had informed nearby Police stations of the vehicle.

The suspect, along with the vehicle, was apprehended in Thalangama last afternoon, with the Police finding 10.600g of ICE in his possession.

Further inspection of the vehicle had led the Police to find a pistol, a magazine with 14 bullets, 08 mobile phones, and 04 ATM cards.

Interrogations of the suspect had found that the firearm had been used to carry out the shooting targeting Shantha Mudunkotuwa.

The arrested suspect is a 30-year-old resident of Dehiwala. The Thalangama and Meegoda Police are conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police have recovered the vehicle that was used in the shooting targeting former Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha member Shantha Mudunkotuwa in Meegoda today.

CCTV footage shows the white car used to carry out the shooting, in which the 46-year-old former councillor was killed. 

It is reported that following the shooting, Shantha Mudunkotuwa had entered a nearby house seeking help.

“I saw someone running inside. When I arrived, I saw a motorbike on the ground and later heard someone shouting from the other side. When I went there, I saw a man with a gunshot wound, bleeding. He asked me to take him to the hospital. I immediately informed the Police and ambulance,” an eyewitness said. 

Meanwhile, a senior resident of the house revealed that following the shooting, Shantha Mudunkotuwa had walked into the house asking to be taken to the hospital. 

“He walked in and said he was from a car sale and he had been shot. After sitting inside our parked three-wheeler, he said he didn’t know who shot him and asked to be taken to the hospital. He then walked out and fell onto the ground. Soon after, members of his family arrived and tried to revive him, but by then he had passed away,” she said. (Newswire)

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Unidentified gunmen have opened fire at the residence of a businessman located in the Batawala area in Meegoda early this morning.

The Police said the suspects had fired four shots at the house and fled the area.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the house was not occupied at the time of the shooting.

The Police suspect the shooting may have taken place to frighten the businessman. (Newswire)

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Three suspects, including the gunman, who were involved in the shooting at the Meegoda Economic Centre injuring a young woman last Monday have been apprehended.

The Police said two men suspected to have aided the shooting were arrested in the Thissamaharama area on Saturday (Feb 17), while the Police had also recovered Rs. 268,050 assumed to have been stolen during the robbery.

The arrested suspects are aged 38 and 42 years and are residents of Yodakandiya.

Meanwhile, another suspect was arrested with a 12-bore firearm in the Godakawela area on Sunday (Feb 18).

The Police said the 34-year-old suspect has been identified as the gunman in the robbery at the Meegoda Economic Centre shooting incident. 

The suspects have been handed over to the Mirihana Police, while investigations are underway. (NewsWire)

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A 23-year-old woman has been injured after being shot by two unidentified gunmen who had attempted to burgle a shop at the Meegoda Economic Centre early this morning.

The Police said the suspects had arrived on a motorcycle and shot the woman who was working as a cashier at the store.

After shooting the woman, the suspects had taken all the money from the store and fled the area.

The injured woman, a resident of Meegoda, has been admitted to the Homagama Hospital for treatment.

The Meegoda Hospital has launched investigations to arrest the suspects. (NewsWire)

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A businessman has been robbed of Rs. 4.5 million after being attacked with chilli powder in the Meegoda area early this morning, it was reported.

According to Lankadeepa, the robbery had taken place when the businessman was on his way home after closing up his shop at the Meegoda Economic Centre which operates at night.

The Meegoda Police stated that the businessman had left the economic centre in his own three-wheeler along with an employee, who he had dropped off at Dhaham Mawatha.

On his way home, thereafter, an individual in another three-wheeler is said to have attacked him with chilli powder and had stolen the cash parcel from him.

The incident is reported to have taken place near Sri Rathana Mawatha in Meegoda.

The Meegoda Police have launched an investigation following a complaint filed by the businessman on the incident. (NewsWire) 

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A 62-year-old man was reportedly shot in the Batagoda area in Meegoda this morning, the Police said.

According to the Police, the man had been shot by two unidentified armed men who had arrived on a motorcycle. 

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the shooting had taken place just as the victim had left his residence in his car, while the suspects are said to have fled the area following the incident.

The Police further stated that the injured individual has been admitted to the Homagama Hospital.

The cause of the shooting is yet to be ascertained. The Meegoda Police has launched an investigation to apprehend the suspects. (NewsWire)

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