Body of missing 9-year-old girl found

The body of a 9-year-old girl, who was reported missing, has been found in the Atulugama, Bandaragama.

Police said her remains were found in a shrubbery area adjacent to her residence.

The mother of the girl had lodged a missing persons’ complaint with the Bandaragama Police Station after the girl, studying in Grade 4, didn’t return home last morning after visiting a store nearby to purchase groceries.

Several teams had commenced investigations in search of the girl following the complaint.

The girl had visited a store approximately 250m away from her residence around 10am yesterday and began searching for her after she was late to return home.

A CCTV camera had recorded her leaving the store. Meanwhile, a rumour that circulated this morning that the girl was in Pettah was dismissed as false information.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the Officer in Charge of the Bandaragama Police Station has commenced investigations into the death of the 9-year-old girl.