Nishantha’s SUV was being driven at breakneck speed, driver admits

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The driver of the Land Cruiser V8 involved in the accident on Thursday morning, resulting in the death of State Minister Sanath Nishantha, had told police that they were traveling at a high speed of approximately 200 kilometers per hour at the time of the incident.

The driver, Prabhath Tharanga, is currently receiving medical treatment at Ragama Hospital under police supervision.

He told police that he was driving at speeds up to 200 km/h and lost control while attempting to overtake a car from the left. This car was already overtaking a container truck, according to the police.

The remains of State Minister Nishantha were transported to his political office in Arachchikattuwa, Chilaw from the Jayaratne Funeral Parlour in Borella on Friday afternoon. Last rites scheduled to take place at the Rajakadaluwa Catholic Cemetery today (28).

Nishantha and a police constable serving as his security officer lost their lives in the accident on the Katunayake Expressway near Kandana around 2 am on Thursday. The SUV Nishantha was traveling in, from Katunayake to Colombo, collided with the rear of a container truck before hitting the safety fence. The state minister, his security officer, and the SUV driver sustained serious injuries and were admitted to Ragama Hospital.

The container truck driver, arrested on Thursday, was scheduled to appear before the Welisara Magistrate on Friday evening.

Born on May 3, 1975, Nishantha began his political career in 1997 by contesting local government elections. He was elected to parliament from the Puttalam District in the general elections of 2015 and 2020.

Nishantha, aged 48, is survived by his wife Attorney-at-Law Chamari Perera, three daughters, and a son. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and several other high-profile politicians have visited the residence to convey their condolences to the grieving family members.