MEEGODA, SRI LANKA — A community celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy on Monday, June 1, 2026 when a truck driver, allegedly intoxicated, drove into a crowd of people gathered for a free food distribution event associated with a local festival.

The incident occurred during a crowded public gathering in Meegoda, where residents had assembled to receive free meals as part of a local festival tradition. Witnesses reported that a heavy vehicle veered off the road and plowed directly into the waiting queue, causing widespread panic and devastation.

Local law enforcement and emergency medical teams were dispatched to the site immediately following the collision. Despite the efforts of bystanders and first responders to provide life-saving assistance, six individuals were pronounced dead at the scene.

Seven others sustained injuries ranging from minor to critical and were promptly transported to nearby hospitals for emergency care. Medical staffs are working to stabilize the survivors, several of whom remain under close observation.

Police have confirmed that the truck driver was taken into custody shortly after the incident. Preliminary field sobriety tests and witness accounts strongly indicate that the driver was operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.

The event has left the local community in a state of profound grief and shock. As police continue their investigation into the exact circumstances leading to the crash, authorities have emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to impaired driving and are calling for stricter enforcement of road safety regulations during public festivals to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.