Daily NEWS Srilanka

The 32 year old son of Matara District State Minister of Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena's from among the latter's 3 sons had at approximately 2.30 in the morning yesterday (18) supposed to have driven a Land Cruiser type of jeep in a negligent manner and had knocked down a motor cycle on the road near Town Hall Vihara Maha Devi Park and as a

The victim of the accident, a youth from Panchikawatta area has sustained severe injuries on one of his legs and he had been promptly admitted to the Accident Ward at nearby Colombo National Hospital, it was reported. After the accident the Minister son had not scooted off but had spoken to the youth's kith and kin with the motive of settling the matter without getting legally implicated. What he had said was that he could pay a compensation of 4 lakhs. He had in that instance offered 1 lakh to the victim's relatives saying that that was all he had at that time and had left the scene saying that he would bring back the balance money. But before doing so, as security he had kept his international driving license in the custody of the referred to relatives and left after that.

The Land Cruiser type of jeep which he drove incidentally happened to belong to the Ministry of Finance and he had left after leaving the vehicle at the very location where the mishap took place and in a spate of few hours the Kurunduwatta Police had taken the vehicle of the Ministry into their custody. Whatever it is, the Minister son who who said that he would come back with the balance 3 lakhs had not returned and the kith and kin of the victim had then lodged an entry with the police to that effect while also forwarding the driving license in the process, which he had kept as security. Further investigations are being handled in this connection by Cinnamon Gardens Police.