Traffic cop who died after being hit by SUV posthumously promoted

Police Constable Manoj Priyankara has been posthumously elevated to the rank of Sergeant after he succumbed to his injuries after being run over by a jeep in Colombo last evening (05 Oct.).

The 25-year-old Police Constable, identified as a resident of the Walasmulla area, was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital in critical condition, after an errant driver ran him over.

The 27-year-old SUV driver was arrested soon after the accident, police said, adding that he had failed to control the speed of the vehicle and run over the police officer. The vehicle had subsequently come to a stop after crashing into the fountain located at the center of the Independence Square Roundabout.

The driver was found to be a technical engineer of a private company and a resident of Narahenpita area. He is reportedly the son of a volunteer obstetrician and a gynaecologist at the police hospital for many years, who was later conferred the rank of Deputy Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). However, according to the police, he had left service at the police hospital many years ago.

Soon after the accident, a special team from the Narahenpita Police was tasked with investigating the accident, under the directives of the OIC of the Cinnamon Gardens Police.