• Six persons including four children drowned and 20 others were hospitalised after a passenger ferry capsized
• The ferry was being used to transport passengers due to repairs being carried out on the Kuringankerni Bridge in Kinniya

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

The owner and two operators of the passenger ferry which capsized in the Kuringankerni Lagoon killing six persons were arrested yesterday.  

Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the suspects, residents of Kinniya will be produced to the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court.  

Six persons including four children drowned and 20 others were hospitalised after a passenger ferry capsized in the Kuringankerni lagoon in Kinniya on Tuesday.  

Meanwhile, the ferry service in the Kuringankerni Lagoon has been suspended and the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has commenced a bus service in the Kurinchakarni area following the incident.  Police said two busses were also operating from Kuringankerni to Kinniya accordingly.   

Meanwhile, the post mortem on the victims was conducted on Tuesday night and bodies of the deceased were handed over to the families. Police said the burial of the victims were held yesterday.   A 30-year-old woman, her 6-year old son and 3-year-old daughter were also among the fatalities.   

Two girls in the same family and a 70-year-old man also died in the tragedy.   The ferry was being used to transport passengers due to repairs being carried out on the Kuringankerni Bridge in Kinniya.