{
  "id": 8597530,
  "title": "‘Dead’ man returns home nearly two months after his burial",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/dead-man-returns-home-nearly-two-months-after-his-burial",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T00:01:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/dead-man-returns-home-nearly-two-months-after-his-burial/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A man who was presumed dead after consuming poison and whose body was buried in a religious almsgiving ceremony has resurfaced alive nearly two months later, according to reports from the Kokawewa Police area. The incident occurred after the man went missing from his home two months ago, a situation his family deemed unremarkable given his habit of leaving for extended periods. When he failed to return for over a week, his wife reported him missing to the Kokawewa Police. By August 27, police learned of a body discovered in a reserve within the Habarana Police Division, leading them to believe the deceased had succumbed to poisoning. Family members were called in to identify the body; they did so, confirming the deceased's identity by recognizing the clothing he wore—clothes provided by his son for the New Year. The body was laid to rest in Polonnaruwa on August 31, accompanied by religious almsgiving ceremonies on September 6 and 7. However, a remarkable twist followed: the man unexpectedly arrived on a bus at his sister's residence, alive. Upon learning of his return, the family promptly informed the Kokawewa Police. Police are currently probing the unusual circumstances of the case, including the possibility that the body reported missing was not the man's at all.",
  "summary": "A man who was believed to have died after consuming poison, and whose body was buried and religious almsgiving ceremonies held, has reportedly returned home alive nearly two months after disappearing. The bizarre incident was reported from the Kokawewa Police area. The man had disappeared from his home about two months ago. As he was […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}