Young girl dies after falling into hotel swimming pool

A six-year-old girl attending a New Year celebration with several families died after falling into a swimming pool at a hotel in Dampe, Piliyandala, yesterday (18) evening, Piliyandala Police state.

The deceased is identified as Mawathage Ihansa Namodi Perera, a resident of Mihindupura, Pannipitiya Road, Palanwatta, and a student at an international school in the Arawwala area. Police investigations reveal the girl's mother is currently abroad, and she lived under the care of her father's sister.

Around 40 members of the family and close relatives arrived at the Piliyandala hotel at approximately 8:15 AM yesterday for the celebration. By late afternoon, around 4:15 PM, a group of ten people, including small children, gathered near the pool area to prepare for water activities, according to police.

An uncle of the girl, who was in the section of the pool reserved for adults, noticed a dark object in the water. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it was the child and immediately pulled her out to provide first aid before rushing her to the Piliyandala District Hospital.

Doctors at the hospital administered emergency treatment, but a spokesperson confirmed the girl was already deceased upon arrival.

Following police notification, the Piliyandala Kesbewa Inquirer into Sudden Deaths, Ajith Wijesinghe, visited the scene last night and inspected the body at the Piliyandala District Hospital morgue. Orders were issued to transfer the body to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination.

Piliyandala Police conduct further investigations into the incident.