Six suspects remanded in Kiri Vehera shooting incident

Six suspects involved in the shooting incident of the former incumbent priest of the Kataragama Kiri Vehera temple have been remanded until March 13.

The case was taken up for hearing at the Tissamaharama Magistrate today (Feb 27).

During today's hearing, the Magistrate instructed the Police to send a reminder to the Government Analysts Department concerning the submission of the report pertaining to the case objects and blood samples which were sent for investigations.

Accordingly, the Kataragama Police told court that measures would be taken by the Analysts Department to expedite the process of submitting its report in due course.

The bullets which were fired at the priest, a blood sample of the victim and telephone conversations of the suspects were handed over for investigations.

The suspects have been accused of violating section 44 (a) of the Firearms Ordinance act no. 22 of 1998, and Section 300 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

A former clergyman of the Kataragama Kiri Vihara temple identified as Bopegedara Asela Lakmal, 40, two twin brothers identified as J.K. Nuwan Kumara and J.K. Dhanushka aged 24, H. Sugath, 40, and two others identified as M. Kavishka Dilshan and Ashan Anuradha were named as suspects in the case.

The sixth suspect in the case, D. Dilhani Weeraratne was also produced before courts today.

The shooting was carried out at around 10:45 pm on June 12 last year.