A 34-year old male identified as a tuition teacher was arrested by the Police over the incident where a vehicle was found floating in the Viyana Canal at Mahiyanganaya, last Thursday.
The tuition teacher had been arrested after he surrendered to the Police on Saturday.
The Police and Navy launched a rescue operation after finding a car floating in the Viyana canal where several accidents and deaths have taken place recently due to vehicles falling into the canal.
The owner of the car, a private tuition teacher had told the Police that his car had fallen into the canal early Thursday as he had fallen asleep.
The teacher had told Police that he swam ashore after getting out of the car and later had walked to the Loggaloya junction and had taken a trishaw to go to Adaulpotha. From Adaulpotha he had travelled to Moneragala by bus and from there to Ratnapura in a trishaw. The teacher had told the Police that he felt mentally disoriented following the accident and could not properly remember where he went and what he did after that.
He had also told Police that he was under tremendous mental pressure before the accident as he was having disputes with his wife often.
The Police said they were interrogating the suspect and will be produced before the Court. Police are conducting further investigations.
Meanwhie, President Maithripala Sirisena last week ordered the relevant authorities to take immediate measures to construct a safety fence on the side of the Viyana Canal on the Badulla-Mahiyangana main road for the safety of the vehicles and passengers.