A two-inch particle of the suspected meteorite seen in the Southern sky on October 18 night following the sound of a loud blast, was found fallen on the roof Dinamina journalist U.M. Ruwan’s house at Walasgala, Dickwella on October 21 morning.
Ruwan said they heard the blast around 8.30 p.m. on October 18 and passed it off as sounds of fire crackers.
Around 4 a.m. on October 19, he heard something rolling down on the roof during heavy rains. On October 21, when rains ceased he climbed the roof to see what it was and found an unusual stone particle wedged in a gutter. He took the particle and placed it on a ceramic plate and after covering it informed the Dickwella police and other relevant authorities.
OIC Inspector Duminda Kulasekera came for an inspection of the particle and provided it police protection. A neighbour who got wind of the finding brought a similar particle. Dhanukshka Amaradasa of the Ruhuna University and Geological Survey and Mines Bureau Director General Prof. Rohan Fernando visited the house and inspected the two particles. They said a decision could not be made without laboratory tests. Prof. Fernando took charge of the two particles for testing.
A large crowd was seen at Ruwan’s house to have a glimpse of the mysterious particles before they were taken away.