Update: Ambalangoda Hiran's killers apprehended - revealed to be the work of Hasitha and Dasun

 A suspect related to the shooting death of the manager of the Singer showroom located in the heart of Ambalangoda town was arrested by the Ambalangoda Police last night (24). This suspect, 36-year-old Rambukkana Gamage Janath Kanchana, a resident of Mahaladuwa, Balapitiya, was produced before Balapitiya Acting Magistrate Z. P. M. Liyakaath today (25), after which the police were granted permission to detain and question him under a detention order until the 30th.

Police investigations have revealed that it was this suspect who took the motorcycle used by the gunmen who came to commit the murder to the Adadola area in Ambalangoda. After taking the motorcycle to the said location, the suspect went to a friend's house, burned the clothes he was wearing, fled to Colombo, and was arrested while hiding in a lodging in the Kollupitiya area.

Police state that information has been received that this crime occurred under the direction of organized criminals Hasitha Madhusanka alias 'Dela' and Dasun Suranga Manawadu, who are currently abroad. The suspect has admitted during questioning that he abandoned the motorcycle in a deserted area of Adadola based on instructions given by them via WhatsApp technology. Police have also questioned the friend who allegedly helped the suspect change clothes, and the friend stated that the suspect came, asked for clothes, burned his old clothes, and that he (the friend) became suspicious about the incident and sent him away from the house.

The deceased, 47-year-old Santiago Hiran Kosala de Silva, was a candidate for the mayoral post of the Ambalangoda Urban Council, representing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) in the last local government election. This murder is believed to be the result of a conflict between two underworld gangs operating in the Ambalangoda area,

and police state that information has been received that the deceased had connections with members of criminal gangs.

The motorcycle used by the gunmen for the murder was found by the police abandoned on the Adadola Road in Kurunduwatta, Ambalangoda, on the afternoon of the day of the incident. Further investigations into the incident are being conducted by a team of officers including Prabath Gunaratne, OIC of the Criminal Division, and Chief Police Inspector Chandimal de Silva, OIC of the Elpitiya Crime Scene Investigation Unit, under the supervision of Ambalangoda Headquarters Police Inspector W. A. B. A. S. Ranaweera.

(Jayakantha Liyanage  -  Balapitiya)