State Minister Sanath Nishantha and another person have reportedly died in a tragic accident that took place on the Colombo - Katunayake expressway in the early hours of the day.

According to the police, the state minister’s vehicle had crashed against the roadside barrier before rear-ending a moving container truck around 2:00 a.m. (25 Jan.).

Following the fatal collision, three persons including State Minister Nishantha were rushed to the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama with critical wounds.

Hospital sources later confirmed that two persons – the lawmaker and his security guard, a police constable named Jayakody – had succumbed to their injuries. The driver of the vehicle is currently receiving medical attention at the hospital.

According to reports, the group had been returning from a wedding ceremony held at a hotel in Bandarawatta, Chilaw last night at the time of the accident.

Kandana Police is conducting further investigations into the accident.

Born on 03 May 1975, Nishantha embarked on his political career in 1997. He was elected to the parliament from Puttalam District at the general elections held in 2015 and 2020.

Nishantha is survived by his wife Attorney-at-Law Chamari Perera, three daughters and a son.