2 die in hit-and-run crash: Lal Sirisena remanded

A driver going by the name of Lal Sirisena of Polonnaruwa was remanded yesterday till Monday after he surrendered to police over a hit-and-run accident which left two brothers dead when his jeep ran over the motorcycle they were riding on the Polonnaruwa-Hingurakgoda road.

The incident had occurred at 1.20 on Saturday morning at Ethumalpitiya. The two brothers were returning from hospital where one of them had just received treatment for the kidney disease (CKD) afflicting many farmers in the area. The jeep which was reported to be travelling at a speed of more than 140 kmph had knocked them down from behind.

The suspect, Pallewatta Gamaralalage Nenasiri Pragnaratna Sirisena alias Lal Sirisena is a well-known businessman in the area. Police said he had not stopped after the accident but surrendered himself later. The motorcyclist and his pillion rider, who sustained serious injuries in the incident, died after they were admitted to the Polonnaruwa Hospital. They were identified as L.M.J.M. Buddhadasa (59) and L.M.J.M. Jayaratne (44). They were residents of Yatiyalpathana, Kaudulla in Hingurakgoda.

Mr Buddhadasa was unmarried while Mr Jayaratne was a married father of two. Mr Buddhadasa was a kidney patient and had been on his way home last night with his brother from the Polonnaruwa Hospital after undergoing dialysis treatment when the incident occurred.

The suspect was produced before the Polonnaruwa Magistrate’s Court, where Acting Chief Magistrate Ruwan Kumara ordered him to be remanded in custody till September 11. Police headquarters in Colombo issued a press release last evening describing the accident without naming the suspect.