One person was killed and six others injured in a road accident at Wellamadama, Matara, when a defender vehicle collided head-on with a lorry.
According to police, a cement-laden lorry travelling from Dondra towards Matara collided with the defender, which was heading in the opposite direction. Seven people were inside the defender at the time of the crash. The driver was killed, and two of the six injured passengers are reported to be in critical condition.
The defender, which had been hired by the group for the day, sustained extensive damage in the collision. The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment.
Matara Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash. The accident adds to a persistent toll of fatal road collisions across the country, which authorities have sought to address through tighter vehicle-safety rules and enforcement.
