’Kotiya’ arrested after four years over Ranjan de Silva’s murder

A suspect wanted in connection with the murder of Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Councillor Ranjan de Silva, the father of cricketer Dhananjaya de Silva, has been arrested by the Mt. Lavinia Police Division's Crimes Investigation Unit.

Police said the suspect, Malindu Lakmal alias 'Kotiya', a resident of Ratmalana, was arrested four year after the murder.

On May 24, 2018, Ranjan de Silva, a member of the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council was shot dead.

The suspect was arrested according to information by Chief Inspector Gamage Nilantha. It is said that the suspect was directly involved in the Councillor's murder, was staying near the Angulana Sayuru Pura apartment complex.

Police said the suspect is a close relative of Sinhara Amal Saminda Silva alias 'Kudu Anju', who is operating organized crimes and drugs traficking from overseas.

Also, the suspect is a close associate of underworld gangster Ellawala Liyanage Dharmasiri alias 'Patiya'. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and Bimal Shayman)