According to police, the incident occurred at approximately 6:45 a.m. as the three-wheeler was travelling from Mapakanda toward Nawalapitiya town. The victims were identified as a school student, his mother, and another female passenger travelling with them. The driver escaped the accident without injuries.
Police officers from Nawalapitiya Police, assisted by local residents, carried out a rescue operation to remove the fallen tree and recover those trapped beneath the wreckage. The bodies of the deceased were subsequently transferred to Nawalapitiya District General Hospital for post-mortem procedures.
Residents expressed anger and concern following the tragedy, alleging that the eucalyptus tree had been in a deteriorated condition for an extended period. They stated that repeated requests had been made to the relevant authorities to remove the potentially dangerous tree, but no action had been taken before the fatal collapse.
An investigation into the incident is currently being conducted by Nawalapitiya Police.
