Kidnapped the businessman distributing money at the Kollupitiya pub

Police have arrested five individuals who abducted a millionaire businessman, who had distributed money to various people at a popular nightclub in the Kollupitiya area, and attempted to extort a ransom of fifty thousand rupees. Police confirm that a 16-year-old minor is among the suspects arrested on the 26th.

Furthermore, approximately one hundred thousand rupees in cash, over 40 grams of 'Ice' drug, and two three-wheelers used by the group for travel have been taken into police custody. The businessman, who was assaulted during the abduction, has been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital for treatment.

Regarding this incident, a resident of K.B. Christie Perera Mawatha, Kotahena, lodged a complaint with the Kotahena Police on the 25th. The complainant and two of his friends were returning home in a three-wheeler after attending a party at a nightclub in Kollupitiya when one friend got off near the Kotahena Post Office. Subsequently, as the complainant and the other friend were traveling, a group in two three-wheelers, one green and one red, pursued them. Claiming to be "Demtagoda Chaminda's disciples," they threatened the complainant's friend, stating that there was some transaction to settle.

At this point, the frightened complainant and his friend got out of the three-wheeler and tried to go home. As the complainant walked towards the church on St. Anthony's Mawatha, the two pursuing three-wheelers blocked their path and stopped. The individuals who got out assaulted the businessman friend and handed him a mobile phone, saying "Demtagoda Chaminda is calling," but he refused to speak, stating he didn't know the person. Subsequently, the group forced the friend into a three-wheeler and abducted him, demanding Rs. 50,000 for his release.

Acting immediately on this complaint, officers, under the instructions of Acting OIC of Kotahena Police, Chief Inspector Dinesh Attanayake, cleverly contacted the suspects by phone and lured them to a specific location under the guise of handing over the ransom money. Three individuals were arrested there, and based on information received from them, the police successfully raided a house in the Mulleriyawa area where the abducted businessman was being held, rescued him, and arrested two more suspects present there. These suspects, aged between 16 and 30 years, are residents of Angoda, Mulleriyawa, Delgahawatta Road, Kelanimulla, and Salalihini Mawatha areas, and a team including Sub-Inspector Mihigolla, OIC of the Criminal Investigation Division, is conducting further investigations into this matter.