Suspicion of murder of Personal Secretary Noel who mysteriously died in Russia

Suspicion of murder of Personal Secretary Noel who mysteriously died in Russia ....

aimed against Sri Lankan Ambassador

Body to be exhumed today

A suspicion has emerged against former Sri Lankan Ambassador for Russia, Udayanga

Weeratunga during the past regime over the death of 36 year old Noel Ranaweera who acted as his Translator cum Personal Secretary as a possible case of murder by him and as a result his body is expected to be exhumed from Welikadamulla burial grounds in Nittambuwa on instructions given by the Magistrate.

This unmarried youth had mysteriously passed away in June last year in that country. Though the former Ambassador had brought the body here to Sri Lanka had not explained reasons for the death clearly, had only forwarded a death certificate that he had met with an accident there. What he had only said was, "Noel was staying at Dos Plaza Hotel. When he was in front of the car park after going to the hotel, that accident has happened".

He forced us to carry on the funeral activities without conducting a post-mortem in this country.

Kith and kin of Noel possess a number of factors giving rise to suspicion that Noel was made to connect himself to several illicit transactions of this Ambassador who has now been accused of having supplied arms to Ukraine rebels and who is presently absconding. It was also said that as he had been involved in the racket of supplying weapons such as selling planes  too there had been a large amount of money in a joint-account of both of them. Under these circumstances, the relatives had complained to police saying that his death has not occured because of an accident but may have taken place because of a murder committed over an issue in respect of acquiring the monies. Under these conditions the court was moved to conduct an examination once more.

Deceased Noel was resident in the city of Roswan Ondos in South Russia and Ambassador Udayanga Weeratunga had informed the family members that he had died from a vehicle accident on 11th June 2014. Relatives had said that on 15th June 2014 the body was brought to Colombo and was then taken to the florist where they had noticed a large bruise on his neck. But what Weeratunga had told the relatives who was suspicious about it was that since all examinations had been carried out in Russia no examinations was necessary in Sri Lanka. It was also understood that from that date until the 18th Weeratunga and his team had remained in the house till burial procedures were over.

It was learned that when relatives interrogated Mr. Udayanga Weratunga at the Nittambuwa house based on the doubt that they had at that time regarding this death, he had tried to evade them. It was understood that Noel Ranaweera initially had gone to Russia on July 21st in 2002 and that he had served at Club Lanka Ukraine Restaurant. Subsequently he had served with the Consulate. It is stated in the death certificate that the cause of death was the injuries he had received on the chest from the vehicle accident.

As it was not possible to arrive at the cause of the death of her son from the last government, Noel's mother Josephine Nona lodged an entry with Attanagalla Plice last March 22nd. On an order by Attanagalla Magistrate, M.Y.M. Irshadeen the body would be exhumed today. Further inquiries are being carried out.