The bodies of two retired teacher sisters from Habaraduwa, who were killed by stoning, were found behind their house.

Habaraduwa Police state that two unmarried retired teacher sisters, who lived alone in a house in the Pithiduwa area of Habaraduwa, have been murdered. Their bodies, suspected to have been killed by a stone, were found behind the house.

The murdered sisters are 87-year-old Wijayananda Senanayake Janaki and 81-year-old Wijayananda Senanayake Nimala, residents of Pithiduwa. The elder sister had served as a teacher consultant in the Galle educational zone and retired, while the younger sister had served as a teacher at Galle Sanghamitta College and retired.

A brother and a sister from this family had passed away some time ago, after which only these two sisters lived in the house. Police investigations have revealed that they owned a large amount of money and property and did not maintain relationships with anyone in the village.

Police state that the murders occurred on the night of the 7th of this month. Information reached the police through neighbors after a person who came to the house to cut a tree saw the two bodies behind the house and informed them. Police suspect that these murders were committed by striking with a black stone.

Police suspect that a group committed these murders with the intention of robbing property, including gold jewelry and money. However, the police also state that investigations are underway to determine whether a group that came to the house at night committed the murders with the intention of robbery, or if the sisters were attacked when they went outside the house to collect wood apples during the early hours of the morning.

Police investigations have also revealed that someone who entered this house one night about a month ago had stolen a mobile phone. It is reported that Nimala Senanayake had also taken steps to install CCTV cameras at the house.

Galle Divisional Crime Scene Investigation officers conducted on-site inspections, and the Galle Magistrate visited the scene and conducted the preliminary inquest. Subsequently, the two bodies were brought to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital on the afternoon of the 8th for post-mortem examinations.

Under the guidance of Deputy Inspector General of Police H.C.A. Pushpakumara, in charge of the Galle District, and the direction of Senior Superintendent of Police K.S.K. Rupasinghe, in charge of the Galle Division, a team of officers including Habaraduwa Police Station OIC Police Inspector Prasanna Algiriyage is conducting further investigations.