Kinniya Urban Council Chairman arrested over ferry accident

Sri Lanka Police says that the Chairman of the Kinniya Urban Council has been arrested over the incident of a passenger ferry capsizing in the Kuringankerni lagoon in Kinniya, Trincomalee.

A ferry operator and assistant were also arrested yesterday in relation to the incident.

The substandard ferry that capsized near Kurinchankerny bridge in Kinniya, Trincomalee on Tuesday morning (23) resulted in the death of 6 school children. 20 people were said to be aboard the ferry, and the remaining had managed to swim ashore.

Sri Lanka Police has confirmed that an investigation is currently underway as to who had granted permission for the substandard ferry to operate.