Boy electrocuted: Officer arrested [January 26 2013]

by Jayampathy Jayasinghe and Dewahuwa Gr. Cor. H. D. Mahindasiri

The Officer-in-charge of a Youth Service Training Centre at Inamaluwa, Dambulla, a retired Army Major has been arrested by the Sigiriya Police for negligence which led to the death of a 19-year-old boy, who was electrocuted while clearing a bamboo tree over which ran a high tension wire, police said.

The deceased was identified as K.G. Niroshan Lasantha Bandara, a resident of Kosgahahinna, Galewela. The incident occured on January 24 while he was cutting a bambo tree that came in contact with the high tension wire that lay overhead. On the day of the incident, the retired Army Major A. D. Hettiarachchi had instructed his students to clear a shrub close to the high tension wire without realising the danger befalling the students.

OIC Sigiriya Police, Inspector S.S.W.M.U Kobbekaduwa is carrying out investigations.