Mirihana Police said yesterday (10) that seven individuals, including the Assistant Principal of the preschool attended by a five-year-old boy who drowned in a swimming pool at a hotel in Nugegoda, have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The arrests were made following investigations into complaints received over the child’s death. Those taken into custody include the preschool’s Assistant Principal, the sports coordinator, two teachers responsible for supervising the children, two swimming instructors, and a preschool attendant.
The tragic incident occurred on the morning of 08 October at a hotel on Stanley Thilakaratne Mawatha, in Mirihana. Police said the victim was part of a group of children participating in swimming lessons under the supervision of teachers and an instructor when he drowned in the pool.
The child was pulled out of the water and rushed to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The postmortem examination was conducted on 09 October at the hospital’s Judicial Medical Office, and an open verdict was delivered.The seven suspects were to be produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court. Investigations are being carried out under the direction of OIC Mirihana, Chief Inspector Dushmantha Liyanage.
by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon 