Nugegoda 'Novelty' shop owner murdered

Business owner of 'Novelty', Nugegoda .....
mysteriously strangled to death inside house

Proprietor of popular business concern 'Novelty Electronics' Mr. Sarath Kumara Hewagama was mysteriously murdered at his residence last Saturday (Jan 18) night. His shop is situated near the bo tree at Nugegoda High Level Road junction. The murder had taken place at his three-storeyed house which stood along
Subadrarama Lane in Nugegoda. He was living alone, divorced from his wife. He had been murdered in this manner by some unknown person with both his hands tied behind his back and then strangled. He was 54 years old when he met with death.

A student studying for his A/Ls had been living in an annexe in the house when the murder was taking place and after hearing somebody shouting had come and inquired when he happened to see Mr. Hewagama's dead body.

The student, Vijitha Ranaweera was the son of a friend of the businessman and he had come to lodge in this house on a temporary basis only the day before the murder.

He explained the incident as follows:
                                        "My house is in Kalawana. Because it is easy for me to go for my A/L classes I came to stay at uncle Sarath's house on the 17th. I went for the class on 18th morning also. I went to uncle's shop after the class because he asked me to come there. At that time uncle was talking to somebody. When I thought of going home alone and asked for the key, he said, "No putha ... I'll also come" and so saying he closed up the shop and we both got into his vehicle and came to uncle's house at Sapumal Place down Subadrarama Road. When we were to come, the person to whom uncle was talking came with us in the same vehicle with both of us. After coming, I went into my annexe and closed the door. 

After that I heard uncle and that person who came with us talking to each other in the hall .... but it was not clear what they were talking about. After a short while I saw from the window another 2 individuals going to the house. I thought that they were uncle's friends ... so I didn't take much notice.

After sometime I saw the person who came first taking a laptop bag and going. By hat time it was night and I had gone to sleep. The time may have been about 11 in the night. I then heard uncle shouting "Budu ammo!" I felt afraid. Sensing that there was some commotion, I was struck with fright for a moment. Later I slowly went and opened the door and peeped inside. Uncle had fallen near the dining-table. His hands were tied behind his back. The neck was tightly tied with a piece of cloth. He was unconscious. I asked for help from neighbours .... called the police. I still hear that shout "budu ammo!"

The Mirihana Headquarters  police who arrived on the scene in the night after being informed of this incident said after investigations that the businessman was dead. The preliminary Magisterial inquiry was conducted last afternoon (Jan 19) and it was also revealed that he had been strangled to death.

Since this house had been used as a wholesale storeroom for electronic equipment, the police found it difficult to make an estimate of missing equipment. The police said that a laptop computer was missing. The police commenced investigations on fingerprints found on the vehicle of the businessman and investigations had begun yesterday with the aid of police dogs.

No one has been taken into custody by the police even by last evening ... nor has any reason been arrived at in relation to the murder.

Mirihana Police is conducting further investigations in this matter.