Five drown in Mannar seas

by Kurulu Kariyakarawana

Three adults and two children were reportedly drowned when a boat carrying a group of 16 persons capsized in the seas off Palugasthurai in Mannar yesterday afternoon.

Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said the boat was carrying a group of civilians on a pleasure trip when the accident occurred. Eleven persons including men and women were rescued by the Navy soon after the accident.

Four bodies were also recovered shortly after.

A body of a missing child was recovered several hours later. The identify of victims could not be ascertained at the time of this edition went to press.