The youth who was rescued and admitted to hospital after drowning in the Deduru Oya this afternoon (5) has also succumbed, raising the death toll from the tragedy to five.
According to police, the victims were part of a group of ten young men from Kiribathgoda who had travelled to Chilaw for a picnic. Five of them drowned while bathing in the Deduru Oya.
Area residents immediately attempted to rescue the group, managing to pull one youth from the water. He was rushed to the Chilaw General Hospital but was pronounced dead on admission.
The bodies of the remaining four were recovered later in the afternoon following a joint search operation by the Chilaw Police, Police Lifeguard Unit, Navy personnel, and local residents.
Police have launched further investigations into the incident.
