The incident occurred during the Thai Pongal holiday. According to police reports, the suspect, an estate resident who was allegedly intoxicated at the time, lured the child to a location approximately 500 meters from her home.
The girl’s disappearance sparked an immediate four-hour search by relatives and fellow estate workers. She was eventually discovered in an area uphill from her residence. Following the victim’s identification of the suspect by name, a formal complaint was lodged with the authorities.
The victim was initially admitted to the Nawalapitiya District General Hospital but has since been transferred to the Peradeniya Children’s Hospital for specialized treatment.
The suspect was to be produced before the Nawalapitiya Magistrate’s Court.
