Four young workers went missing while bathing in the Maha Oya river in the Peragahamankada area of Badalgama on Saturday. Conflicting reports describe either all four recovered deceased or two dead with two still missing.

A drowning incident involving four young workers occurred in the Maha Oya river in the Peragahamankada area of Badalgama on Saturday afternoon. Police and area residents launched a search and recovery operation after the group went missing in the water.

The sources conflict significantly on the outcome. According to police statements reported by NewsWire, all four bodies were recovered and placed at Negombo Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations. NewsFirst reported a different account, stating that two people had died with two others remaining missing at the time of reporting, and that a search operation was continuing to locate the missing individuals.

The victims' identities and residences also differ between accounts. NewsWire identified the deceased as a 25-year-old man from Ohiya and three women aged 19, 20, and 28 from Demodara, all employed at a private establishment in the Badalgama Police Division. NewsFirst stated all four individuals were residents of Hatton, with recovered bodies described as a young woman and man both aged around 25.

NewsFirst additionally reported that the drowning began when one young woman went underwater, prompting the other three to attempt a rescue, during which they also drowned. This sequential narrative was not mentioned in the NewsWire account. Badalgama Police continue investigations into the incident.