Chief Inspector arrested over death of female physiotherapist

By Ranjith Rajapaksa - Hatton 

Hatton, June 26 (Daily Mirror)  - A Chief Inspector of Police has been arrested in connection with the death of a female physiotherapist found inside a car in Teldeniya.

Earlier, police arrested the 43-year-old main suspect, along with his wife and a young child, during a joint operation in Jaffna. A 49-year-old driver attached to the Kundasale Pradeshiya Sabha was also arrested. 

Nuwara Eliya Magistrate Buddhika Harshani Dharmadasa has granted police permission to detain and question three key suspects for 48 hours. The detention order covers the main suspect, 43-year-old Jayasundara Mudiyanselage Champika Sriyan Jayasundara of Narammala, his 35-year-old wife Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Nethmi Amaya Ratnayake, and a 49-year-old driver attached to the Kundasale Pradeshiya Sabha, Jayasinghe Arachchige Rajitha Saliya Samarasinghe, who is alleged to have assisted the suspects.

Police said the breakthrough came after officers from the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit intercepted the main suspect, his wife and their child while travelling on a bus from Wellawatte to Jaffna. The couple was arrested in the Kaithady area of Jaffna on Wednesday (24) and later handed over to the Nuwara Eliya Police. Investigators subsequently arrested the local government driver suspected of aiding the couple.

The investigation widened on Thursday night (25) when detectives arrested a Chief Inspector attached to the Kundasale Police Training College in Kandy. Police allege that the officer, who is said to be a close associate of the main suspect, provided shelter and assistance while the suspect was evading arrest.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Chandana Basnayake of the Nuwara Eliya Division said investigations revealed that the main suspect had travelled to Jaffna on three separate occasions with his family while on the run. Rather than attempting to flee overseas, police believe he remained within the country, using long-distance bus journeys and temporary stays in Jaffna before moving between the homes of acquaintances to avoid detection.

According to investigators, the suspect did not possess sufficient funds to facilitate an escape abroad, and his movements were limited to attempts to evade arrest within Sri Lanka.