A 21-year-old youth was hacked to death with a sharp weapon in the Balawathgama area, under the Hemmathagama Police Division, last night (20), police said.

The victim was a resident of the Devanagala area. Preliminary investigations suggest the killing stemmed from a personal dispute.

The body has been placed at the Hemmathagama Hospital morgue.

Police have arrested a 23-year-old suspect in connection with the incident, and further investigations are underway.