News
Crime spree continues despite police making breakthrough with Dubai extraditions
View(s):By Sandun Jayawardana and Damith Wickramasekara
Incidents of grave crime continue to grab headlines even as police claim they are notching up wins against organised criminal gangs.
On Friday (7), a team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers who flew to Dubai brought back three suspects wanted in connection with multiple murders.
One of the suspects, identified as R.M. Hemantha Silva (42), had an open warrant for his arrest issued by the Tangalle Magistrate’s Court in connection with the attack on the occupants of a defender vehicle in Beliatta in January last year that killed five people, including Leader of the ‘Ape Janabala Party’ Saman Perera.
The 3 suspects from Dubai arriving at BIA. Pic by T K G Kapila
The other two suspects who were extradited along with Silva were identified as K.G. Pradeep Sandaruwan, alias ‘Chandana’ (40), and Nadakandage Upali, alias ‘Rotumba Upali’ (39). Sandaruwan was wanted in connection with a number of serious crimes committed in the Wellampitiya area, including murder, attempted murder and assault. They included a fatal shooting of an individual on June 30, 2021, and three other attempted murders. Upali, meanwhile, was a suspect in two separate murders committed in 2008 and had a case pending in the Matara High Court over the rape of a 15-year-old girl.
Police had obtained Interpol ‘Red Notices’ against all three suspects, leading to their arrest in Dubai and extradition.
Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) K.B. Manathunga revealed that police have obtained such Red Notices against 65 other wanted suspects, currently known to be overseas.
The crime scene in Hiniduma. Pic by Udugama Ravee Liyanage
Mere hours after police brought the three suspects to the country, two unidentified assailants on a motorbike shot and killed a 35-year-old person near the Reggie Ranatunga Vidyalaya in Minuwangoda. The motive for the killing had not been established yesterday, and Minuwangoda Police were conducting investigations to arrest the suspects.
The latest shooting comes on the heels of two vicious crimes that left six people dead in recent days. Three persons were gunned down at a lodge in Mahabodhiwatta, Hiniduma, on the night of January 30. The victims were the lodge owner and two others. The suspects had used a T-56 weapon to carry out the shooting. Among those arrested over the shooting is a coordinating secretary to a former minister.
Meanwhile, four suspects, including a 13-year-old, were taken into custody over an attack on a house in Mamadala, Ambalantota, on February 2, where three persons were hacked to death. Police said there was information that the crime may have been the result of a long-standing dispute between two groups involved in the illicit liquor racket. The three adult suspects were remanded till February 13 after being produced before the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (4). The court also ordered that the arrested juvenile suspect be sent to the Kithulangoda detention centre. At least two other suspects are being sought by police over the triple murder.
On Tuesday (4), officers from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) arrested a suspect wanted in connection with two attempted murders in Grandpass and Kotahena in 2022 and 2023. Police said the suspect was the shooter in both incidents. Police have also arrested a suspect wanted in connection with three fatal shootings in Dehiwala and Mount. Lavinia on September 15 and November 13 last year and January 7 this year. Four persons were killed in these shootings. Police said the suspect had acted as the motorbike rider transporting the shooters involved.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!