A woman has been arrested by the Biyagama Police on charges of using "witchcraft" on a nine-year-old girl who died afterwards, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said today.
He said the mother of the girl who is from Meegahawatta had taken her to a treatment centre operated by the suspect after the girl fell ill last night.
The woman had treated the victim with an oil and then had caned her in order to get rid of 'evil forces' that had possessed her.
The girl had become unconscious after the beating and was pronounced dead on admission to the Biyagama Hospital.
Post-mortem examination is to be conducted.