Police have found that the driver arrested over the fatal multi-vehicle crash in Mattakkuliya had consumed cannabis at the time of the incident.
Police said the finding was made as part of investigations into the crash, which left three people dead and several others injured.
The accident occurred in Mattakkuliya on Wednesday night when a car collided with several vehicles travelling along the road, including three three-wheelers and four motorcycles.
The driver of the car was subsequently arrested, while the injured were admitted to hospital for treatment.
Hospital sources later confirmed that the death toll had risen to three, with 12 others receiving treatment at the National Hospital in Colombo.
Police are conducting further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
