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Six-year-old’s death takes Kinniya death toll to seven

28 Nov 2021

  • Passed away Saturday night at Trinco Hospital
The death toll from the capsizing of a passenger ferry in the Kuringankerni Lagoon in Kinniya has increased to seven after another child injured in the accident succumbed to injuries. The Kinniya Police said that a six-year-old girl who was being treated at the Trincomalee Hospital, after being injured in the ferry incident, had passed away Saturday night (27). Earlier, six people, including four schoolchildren, were reported dead after a ferry capsized in the Kuringankerni Lagoon in Kinniya, Trincomalee on 23 November, while 11 others sustained injuries and were admitted to the Kinniya Hospital. Following the incident, residents of the Kuringankerni area attacked the house of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Trincomalee District MP M.S. Thowfeek, severely damaging the house. Multiple attempts by The Morning to contact Thowfeek proved futile. Kinniya Urban Council (UC) Chairman S.H.M. Naleem was arrested on 25 November in relation to the boat tragedy, although it is still unclear as to whether Naleem had given the letter of permission used by the boat owners to operate a ferry service. Police Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nihal Thalduwa told The Morning last week that Naleem was arrested under the Penal Code. He confirmed that the boat that had toppled, leading to the accident, had had a letter of permission to operate a ferry service. However, Naleem told The Morning last Wednesday (24) that he had only authorised an outboard service with an affixed, standard motor to fulfill the public’s need, under several safety conditions. The ferry owner and two operators were also arrested in relation to the incident on Wednesday.


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