A police officer has died after being knocked down by a tipper truck at the Kongala checkpoint on Matara-Hakmana road.

According to reports, two police sergeants have sustained injuries in this fatal accident.

The deceased officer has been identified as a 36-year-old Constable attached to Hakmana Police. He is a resident of Walasmulla area, the police media said.

At around 11.00 pm last night (13), the police officers on vehicle inspection duty in Kirinda town had signalled a tipper truck, which had been en route to Hakmana from Matara, to stop.

However, as the driver failed to comply with the orders, these officers informed the policemen at the Kongala checkpoint of the situation, while giving the tipper truck a chase.

Upon receiving the information, the police officers at the checkpoint had managed to stop the driver. They had been inspecting the tipper truck when the policemen who were tailing vehicle arrived there.

The police officers subsequently issued the driver a spot fine permit as a temporary license and warned him against reckless driving.

The tripper truck driver, who then set off in the direction of Hakmana area, had turned the vehicle and sped up towards Matara area nearly 10 minutes later.

He had intentionally knocked the police officers at the checkpoint, killing one Constable and injuring two Sergeants.

Hakmana Police is conducting further investigations to apprehend the perpetrator responsible for this hit-and-run incident.