Sri Lanka: Moonshine Tragedy: Five Workers Dead, Three Critical in Waikkal Illicit Liquor Poisoning
By Lions Roar News Investigative Desk
WAIKKAL, SRI LANKA (January 7, 2026) — A devastating suspected poisoning linked to illicit liquor (moonshine) has claimed the lives of five men and left three others fighting for their lives in the Waikkal-Thambarawila area.
The tragedy, which unfolded between Sunday night and Monday morning, has led to the arrest of a 65-year-old local woman suspected of selling the lethal brew.
🚨 The Timeline of the Tragedy
According to Wennappuwa Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Asela Pulwansa, the victims—most of whom were migrant workers employed in local institutions—purchased the “hooch” on Sunday night.
- Sunday Night: The group consumed the illicit liquor at their accommodation in Thambarawila.
- Monday Morning: After developing severe health complications overnight, three men were found dead at their lodging.
- Hospital Fatalities: Two others were rushed to the Marawila Base Hospital in critical condition but succumbed to their symptoms shortly after arrival.
- Current Status: Three survivors remain hospitalized at the Negombo General Hospital, where they are being treated for symptoms consistent with toxic alcohol poisoning.
🕯️ The Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as residents from various parts of Sri Lanka who had moved to Waikkal for work:
- Jude Prasath Nishantha (58) – Resident of Waikkal-Thambarawila
- Wasantha Ranasinghe (53) – Resident of Othanegama, Anuradhapura
- Kovil Selvam (28) – Resident of Dayanagama, Hatton
- Ranjith Fernando (60) – Resident of Pelmadulla
- K. H. Jayantha (56) – Resident of Mapalagama
⚖️ Legal Action and Arrests
The Wennappuwa Police acted swiftly following the deaths, tracing the source of the liquor to a residence in the Thambarawila area.
- The Arrest: A 65-year-old woman alleged to have sold the moonshine has been taken into custody.
- Magisterial Inquiry: Marawila Additional Magistrate Dinidu Samarasinghe visited the scene yesterday (January 6) to conduct an on-site investigation.
- Post-Mortem Orders: The Magistrate has ordered the bodies to be sent to the Chilaw General Hospital for forensic examination by a Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) to determine the exact toxins present in the liquor.
