22 February 2010 12:54 pm
The police strongly denied claims that they had murdered a farmer in Inginiyagala and insisted that he had died after escaping police custody and jumping into the Inginiyagala Samudra lake. The death of the farmer had sparked tensions in the area today.
Police spokesman SP Preshantha Jayakody stated that the suspect was taken into custody after he created a commotion at the Moragahapalama temple and threatened the priest. After he was taken into custody and was being escorted the suspect had escaped by jumping into the Inginiyagala Samudra Lake.
The police and the people in the area had requested the suspect to come ashore but he had not cooperated and had drifted to a part of the lake where the current of the lake was believed to be strong.
The body of the suspect was recovered this morning near the side of the lake, he said.