CID uncovers fresh lead in Thajudeen’s mysterious death

A fresh revelation has emerged regarding the death of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, with police disclosing that a suspicious driver linked to the incident has been identified as Aruna Vidanagamage alias ‘Kajja’ by his wife.”  

Acting Police Media Spokesperson, ASP Minura Senarath said that this disclosure has come through a statement given to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).  

Thajudeen’s body was discovered inside a burnt-out car near the Shalika Cricket Stadium in Narahenpita on May 17, 2012. The police initially claimed his death was an accident. However, the matter was challenged, and later, under the Good Governance administration, the CID submitted a special report to court on July 27, 2015, confirming that Thajudeen’s death was a murder.  

Former Western Province Senior DIG Anura Senanayake, former Narahenpita Police Crimes OIC Sumith Perera, and former Chief Judicial Medical Officer Ananda Samarasekara were arrested on charges of concealing evidence but were later released on bail. Senanayake and Samarasekara both passed away while court proceedings were ongoing.  

In the latest development, ASP Senarath revealed that Kajja’s wife, after viewing CCTV footage presented by the CID, identified her husband standing behind Thajudeen at a shop near the Havelock City complex, where Thajudeen was seen purchasing a bottle of water.  

She said she recognized him based on his posture which indicated a recurring headache condition he had been suffering at the time. The footage showed moments after Thajudeen’s purchase, Kajja was seen entering a suspicious vehicle that followed Thajudeen’s, who was found dead just 20 minutes later.  

The spokesman said the information had surfaced following the interrogation of underworld figure ‘Backhoe Saman’, who was arrested in Indonesia and is suspected of orchestrating Kajja’s murder.