The body of a 2-year-and-6-month-old child who had gone missing was found in the Neluwa, Suduwellawa Ranketa canal this morning (16), according to Nelwa police. The child had accompanied his parents to his grandparents' house in Pamankada, Suduwellawa, Neluwa area to celebrate the New Year.

A special operation conducted by the police, army, and villagers led to the discovery of the child's body. The body was to be taken to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The police stated that the cause of death could be determined after the examination.

The deceased child was identified as Kekulundala Liyanage, Don Niven Devmira's son. The family had travelled from Aluthgama, Darganagara to the grandmother's house for the New Year celebration. The child's father had reported to the Nelwa police that the child had gone missing on the previous day (15) while he was at his wife's residence.