Hyacinth Wijeratne dies in Lindula van plunge

Veteran actress Hyacinth Wijeratne died in a road accident in the Lindula area on the Nuwara Eliya - Thalawakele Road on Friday night, police said.

Ms Wijeratne was 75 years old.

According to Police Spokesman SDIG Ajith Rohana, the van she was travelling in had run off the road and plunged into a precipice.

Lindula Police have arrested the black HiAce driver who had fled the scene without injury.

According to the Police, the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel, and he will be produced before the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate. The actress was heading to Colombo after a teledrama shoot in Nuwara Eliya.

Ms Wijeratne’s body is at the Lindula Divisional Hospital for the post- mortem examination by Nuwara Eliya District Hospital’s Judicial Medical Officer.

Ms Wijeratne began her acting career in the late 70s and was a well-known character appearing in many films and teledramas. Gedara Budun Amma, Chandi Petavu, Guru Geethaya, Dhawala Pavura, Suparna were some of the films featuring her.

She also featured in the award-winning film Ho Gaana Pokuna in 2015.

Ms Wijeratne also played the role of Lady MallikaDh arm a gun award hana,m other of Anagarika Dharmapala in the film Anagarika Dharmapala Srimathano in 2014.

She was one of 12 road accident fatalities on Friday reported from around the country.