Father and Son Drown in Maha Oya River; Father Missing

A tragic incident at the Maha Oya river near Mirigama, Sri Lanka, has resulted in the death of a 19-year-old and the disappearance of his father. The pair, identified as Thisara Sampath Jayakody and his father Dinesh Chandika Jayakody, 47, were swimming in the river near the expressway bridge when the incident occurred around 5:00 PM on Thursday, August 15, 2026.

According to Mirigama police, the elder Jayakody, Dinesh Chandika, reportedly got into distress while swimming first. In an attempt to rescue his father, his son, Thisara Sampath, also entered the water but was subsequently overcome. Thisara Sampath Jayakody, a resident of Purana Mirigama, was pronounced dead, and his body has been placed in the morgue at the Dambadeniya Hospital.

Authorities are currently searching for the missing father, Dinesh Chandika Jayakody. Another individual who was in the water has been admitted to Dambadeniya Hospital for treatment. The group had reportedly been consuming alcohol with relatives from Ibbagamuwa, Kurunegala, prior to entering the river.