Danny killing suspect killed in police shoot-out

The main accused in the killing of former Southern Development Authority chairman Danny Hiththetiya was killed in a police shoot-out in Minuwangoda yesterday, Western Province (North) Crimes Division Peliyagoda OIC Gamini Ratnayake said.

OIC Ratnayake said that police had been following the suspect for about three weeks and that on information received they had set up a road block at Japalawatte in Minuwangoda yesterday around 2.30 am to arrest him.

He stated that however the vehicle in which the suspect had been travelling hadn’t stopped when ordered to and a person in the van had opened fire at the police, forcing them to return fire.

The accused has been wanted in connection with eight major robberies other than Mr. Hiththetiya’s killing, he said.

Danny Hiththetiya was shot and killed near his residence at Makandura in Matara on July 11 by two persons who had arrived on a motorbike.