A 13-year-old boy has died after a firework exploded during an annual temple festival in Valachchenai, Batticaloa, on Friday night, the Daily Mirror reported.
The boy, a resident of Kulakkadu in Kiran, was at the temple during night celebrations when the explosion happened at about 11.00 p.m.
According to the report, a firework that had failed to ignite properly was removed from the main display area after being treated as unexploded. The boy later approached the discarded device to inspect it, and it detonated, injuring him seriously.
He was taken to Valachchenai Base Hospital for emergency treatment but died while receiving care.
Valachchenai Police have begun an investigation into the circumstances of the explosion.
Not reported
The Daily Mirror does not name the boy or the temple, say who organised or handled the fireworks display, or state whether the organisers held a permit for it. It does not say how the misfired device came to be left where festival-goers could reach it, whether anyone else was injured, or whether any arrest has been made.
The report carries no comment from the temple administration, the Batticaloa district authorities or the police beyond confirmation that an inquiry is under way.
No other verified newsroom had reported the death at the time of writing. A search across Ada Derana, NewsFirst, Hiru News, the Daily News, News.lk, Colombo Gazette, the Island, Daily FT and Tamil Guardian returned no independent account of the incident, leaving this a single-source report.
