Murder of two businessmen in Rathgama CID quizzes Senior DIG Ravi Wijegunawardena for 7 hours

By Indika Ramanayake   

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday (19) took seven hours to record a statement from Senior DIG Southern Province Ravi Wijegunawardena in relation to the brutal murder of two businessmen from the Rathgama area.  

 The two businessman from Rathnaudagama in Rathgama, Manjula Asela (30) and Rasith Chinthaka (31), who were engaged in the the fish and chicken trade, were abducted and killed and their remains torched before they were buried in a remote spot inside a forest reserve in Walasmulla.

This was the first time SDIG Wijegunawardena was summoned by the CID to record a statement in connection with the murders. The recording of his statement which began at 9.30 a.m. went on till 5 p.m. He is due to be called again in the near future in order that another statement could be recorded.   

It was alleged that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) which came directly under SDIG Wijegunawardena was involved in the murders of the two businessmen.   

Seven suspects including the OIC and Acting OIC of the SIU were arrested and are awaiting trial.