Three children and their mother drowned at sea, while playing on the beach off Old Tangalle Road in Hambanthota this morning, the Police said.

The children were aged 2 and a half, 6 and 10 years old.

The Police said the children had been washed away into the sea and their mother, aged 31, had gone to rescue them.

Bodies of two boys and their mother were recovered, while search operations were under way to locate the 6 year-old girl, the Police said.

Police said it was revealed that they had gone from Colombo to Hambanthota to attend a wedding.