HASITHA MADAWALA’S MURDER & COCONUT CONFLICT

The cause for Hasitha ‘s murder is because of a personal matter:

Coconuts have been constantly falling to murderer’s compound

The suspects of the murder of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Member Hasitha Madawala have all been arrested within a short period. They have been arrested with the necessary evidence like the m.m 9 pistol, a three wheeler used for spying and the motor cycle in which the murderer was taken as the pillion rider.
It has been revealed that the co-ordinator to Minister Mervyn Silva in the Parliament, Singappuru Sarath, Co-ordinating officer to the Minister, Saman along with certain others has been among those arrested. This was revealed by the CID who conducted the investigations.
When investigations were conducted by the CID it had revealed that the murder had taken place following a private conflict, it is reliably learnt. A person by the name Rangana had taken the initiative for this murder.It is learnt that the Chairman of the kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha had scolded and assaulted Rangana’s mother when she had gone to lodge a complaint with regard to coconuts that were constantly falling in their compound from the coconut trees of a neighbouring house. In retaliation this murder had been made.
The CID reports the case in this manner......Rangana Perera is a resident of Kelaniya ,Nungamugoda area. He had been a person running a catering service. He had initially gone to Singapore to purchase pantry utensils for his business. Later on he had been travelling to Singapore constantly to buy these utensils and sell here, which had become a business.
Rangana, his father, mother, sister and sister’s children had lived in this house at Nungamugoda. In the vicinity the slain Hasitha Madawala too had lived. It is learnt that from a neighbouring house coconuts have been constantly falling into the compound of Rangana. Despite warning and requesting them of this nuisance, the neighbours had not taken any solution despite several arguments. Rangana’s mother had gone and met the Chairman of kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha to make a complaint. As Rangana is a close associate of Minister Mervin Silva, the Chairman had not given much attention but had scolded her and had assaulted her and had chased her away. This incident had happened in early December. The Pradeshiya Sabha Member Hasitha Madawala had occupied a room close to that of the Chairman .Rangana’s mother had wanted to make the complaint to him. It is learnt that he had scolded her in filth and chased her away .It is leant on the day of the incident Rangana had been away in Singapore. When he returned this story was related and he had become furious and had planned this murder.
For planning this murder Rangana had sought the assistance from his father, uncle (mother’s brother) and the Parliamentary secretary to Minister Mervin Silva, Singappuru Sarath together with two others. Singappuru Sarath had given his T 81 fir arm and m.m 9 pistol for the shooting that was planned.Madawala’s movements had been checked by Rangana’s father by using a three wheeler.
On the 5th Rangana’s father around 7.30 p.m had been hiding near Hasitha Madawala’s house when he arrived with two friends. The two friends had for a moment left to nearby boutique. Then at that time Rangana’s father had telephoned him and told that this is the ideal time to shoot him.Rangana had arrived on the pillion fully masked on a motor bike ridden by a 17 year old. Rangana had got out of the bike and had told Madawala” You have done a dirty thing to my mother”. He had yelled” Machang we are friends, why do you want to shoot me”. After shooting the two had fled .They had travelled to Negombo, to a house where Rangana’s brother in law had been living He had given the two protection. While riding to Negombo the bike had been escorted by a double cab belonging to Mervin Silva’s co-ordinating secretary, one Saman.
In the meantime Hasitha Madawala had been rushed to the Colombo’s national hospital. He had died on admission.
The CID had been able to recover and take into their possession the m.m 9 pistol made in Italy, the motor cycle used was the murder,the three wheeler which was used for spying activities. After the shooting incident there had been a tremendous unrest in the kelaniya area. The CID was handed over to investigate instead of the Police at the request of Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and other members.
It is learnt that Rangana Perera and Hasith Madawala had been friends from small days as they had lived in the same locality that is Nungamugoda area in kelaniya. Both of them had helped Mervin Silva during the election campaign. Lately 12 members of the kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha including the Chairman and Hasitha Madawala had fallen off with the Minister as they did not agree to what he was up to and his activities. However Rangana Perera had remained a staunch supporter of Minister Mervin Silva.
Although it was the Chairman who scolded and assaulted Rangana’s mother it was Hasitha Madawala who was shot. According to the confession the reason for the killing was because of the conflict Rangana Perera’s family had with their neighbour over a coconuts falling issue.
All suspects are to be produced before the magistrate.
The funeral of Hasitha Madawala is due to take place today.