Death due to pesticide poisoning:

by Norman Palihawadane

The parents of a Derby woman who died due to suspected insecticide poisoning at a hostel in Colombo 03 are scheduled to arrive in Colombo today.Ebony McIntosh was one of the two tourists who died due to suspected insecticide poisoning while two others escaped death after treatment.

The other victim was 26-year-old Nadine Raguse from Germany.McIntosh, a 24-year-old digital marketing and social media manager from Derby, and Raguse were both staying in the Miracle Colombo City hostel in Colpetty.

They had fallen ill after a room at the hostel was fumigated for bed bugs, according to Police Spokesman Buddhika Manatunga.

Manatunga said that an autopsy to determine McIntosh’s cause of death will take place after her family arrives in Sri Lanka on Monday.

Manatunga said the hostel, which is currently closed, will remain shut until then.

A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Sri Lanka, and are in contact with the local authorities.”