The bodies of three youth who drowned yesterday while bathing in the Kandalama lake were found following an extensive search, police said.
![](../images/Kandalama.jpg) |
Police divers on a search operation |
Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said the tragedy had occurred around 2.15 p.m. and the bodies of the youth, who were part of a group of about 45 on a trip to Dambulla, were found about one and a half hour’s later by police divers after villagers had failed in their attempts.
On their way to Dambulla the group had stopped at the picturesque Kandalama lake for lunch and a dip when the tragedy occurred.
The victims were Praneeth Samarasekare (22), Isuri Lakmal (17) and Malinda Samarasekare (18) from Araliya Uyana, Depanama and Pannipitiya respectively.
Isuru Lakmal was studying for his G.C.E ordinary level while Malinda Samarasekare was an Advanced level student. Dilantha was to join the Navy next week. The bodies are at Dambulla hospital mortuary and post mortems were to be conducted today. |