The Watawala Police in Hatton has launched an investigation into the incident in which a man had thrown the corpse of his mother (81) into a forest claiming he could not bear funeral expenses.

Police said Walliamma Ragei, the mother of one residing in upper-division of Wigton Estate in the Watawala Police Division, had passed away in her residence following an illness.

The late Walliamma’s niece R. Vishawa Gauravi said there was no information about her husband who, accompanied by his son (15), took the body of his mother in a trishaw saying he had no money to spend on the funeral.

The police, together with Wigton Estate workers, commenced a search to find the corpse.

Meanwhile, a group of workers have lodged a complaint with the Watawala police saying they suspected foul play in the death of the old woman. (Ranjith Rajapaksa)