(UPDATE 02:37 PM): Six persons have been arrested over the stampede that took place near a house in Maligawatte today (21), says the Police Spokesperson.
Three females have died while nine others sustained injuries in a stampede in Maligawatte.
The stampede occurred near a house in Jumma Masjid Street as a person was handing out cash to the residents of the area.
It is reported that several hundreds of people had attended this event.
Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon stated that the individual in question is a businessman from Dehiwala, who had obtained a curfew pass from Dehiwala Police, claiming that it was for his business activities.
DIG Tennakoon noted that this businessman had not informed any relevant authorities of this private donation event.
Legal action will be sought against the arrestees for assembling people during curfew hours without the knowledge of the police and disregarding instructions for social distancing, he added.
In the meantime, the injured persons have been admitted to the National Hospital in Colombo for treatment.
