Three arrested for attempting to abduct Co-operative Society Director in Urubokka

Three suspects who had allegedly abducted the Director of a Co-operative Society in Urubokka have been arrested in Piliyandala, police said.

The Co-operative Director, Suranga Lakmal Edirisinghe, 43, who is also a tenant, had been abducted by a group of persons in a van while travelling on a motorcycle in Beralapanathara, Matara yesterday (Sept 19).

Police said, investigations with the use of CCTV footage had shown that the van used by the kidnappers did not have a number plate, and had been purchased on rent.

Two suspects had been arrested while attempting to handover the vehicle following which another individual had been apprehended upon information obtained from the suspects.

Upon questioning, it had been revealed that the abducted individual had been dropped off in Kottawa. He has been admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.

According to the Police, the suspects had confessed to have carried out the kidnapping on a contract given to them by a group who opposed the purchase of a land by the Cooperative Director in Wellawatte.

The suspects, Kisal Hima Pathirana, 26 (employed at the Walgama Pradeshiya Sabha), Sujan Pathirana, 24 (unemployed), and Yashoda Dulanka, 26 (a fitness consultant) had been apprehened in connection with the incident.

They are to be produced before the Morawaka Magistrate's Court by the Police seeking a 48-hour detention order to carry out further investigations.

A search operation is underway to apprehend another suspect believed to have been involved in the kidnapping.