Police accuse Sri Lankan excavator operator of negligence

Feb 2, 2026, 11:24 AM
Police accuse Sri Lankan excavator operator of negligence

Police have accused the excavator operator of negligence in the death of a Bangladeshi man at the garbage site in Thilafushi industrial island on January 26.

Police said 24-year-old Amin Mia, who worked at the Thilafushi garbage site, died after being hit on the head by the excavator.

The 32-year-old Sri Lankan man, Heshan Maduranga Disanayaka Menika, who operated the excavator, was arrested under a court order.

The court remanded him in custody for seven days because he had not been able to meet a lawyer before his appearance in court.

"The IO [investigation officer] noted that a person was killed after being hit by the excavator and that he operated the vehicle carelessly," the court order said.

Police have accused him of manslaughter.

CCTV footage of the incident showed that the excavator continued operating even after hitting Amin Mia's head.

Adhadhu has learnt that the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) reported him missing two days after the incident.

His body was found during a search on the day he was reported missing.

A person familiar with the matter told Adhadhu that Amin Mia was reported missing by his co-workers because he did not report to the sleeping quarters.

But the WAMCO manager did not take the matter seriously.

It is unclear why WAMCO delayed reporting his disappearance to the police. WAMCO officials were not available for comment.

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