Another person died from wounds suffered when villagers demonstrating against contaminated water at Weliweriya clashed with security forces personnel, taking the death toll from the incident to three.

A 29 year-old youth being treated at the Colombo National Hospital following the Weliweriya incident succumbed to injuries today, a spokesman for the hospital said.

He is said to be Nilantha Pushpakumara, a resident of Weliweriya.

A 17-year-old student, Akila Dinesh, died Thursday night from the shooting while another youth, Ravishan Perera, 19, who was critically wounded had died last night in the ICU of the National Hospital.

Dozens more protesters were wounded on Thursday when security personnel clashed with hundreds of demonstrators, who demanded that authorities shut down a factory in the area, which they claim was polluting their drinking water.

The company, Dipped Products PLC, however has rejected the accusations saying the factory’s effluent water quality is regularly tested by the National Building and Research Organization and that the facility operates with valid Environmental Protection Licence.

“We have reasonable suspicions that this incident is being aggravated by certain parties with hidden political agendas who are seeking to bring our company to disrepute and tarnish the good image…,” Managing Director of the company Dr. Mahesha Ranasoma said in a statement today.  

Opposition parties and other rights groups have condemned the crackdown against the protest by villagers who were demanding clean drinking water for thousands of residents of Weliweriya and have criticized the manner in which authorities had handled the situation.

The military said it had named a five-member board of inquiry to probe the allegations against the troops.

Meanwhile security forces are standing guard at the plant while security has been tightened in the entire area.