The body of a dead woman has been found in the Mahaweli River in the Ilwatura area in Gampola.

Police said the identity of the deceased woman has not yet been confirmed.

 The deceased has been identified as a 50- to 55-year-old woman, police said.

 A handbag suspected to be that of the woman had also fallen near the river and nearly Rs. 15,000 and several drugs had been found in it.

Gampola Police OIC Chief Inspector Laksiri Fernando who arrived at the scene said that messages about the woman had been sent to the surrounding police stations and further investigations were being carried out.

The body is being kept at the Gampola Hospital morgue and the Gampola Police are conducting further investigations.