Rathgama Businessmen Murder : More bone fragments found

COLOMBO (News 1st) - More bone fragments have been discovered from the site in Udadeniya, Medagoda in Walasmulla, where the bodies of two businessmen from Rathgama are suspected to have been burnt. Meanwhile, the vehicle suspected to have been used to transport the bodies of the businessmen to where they were burnt was impounded by the Criminal Investigations Department this evening. Earlier, the CID revealed that the two businessmen Manjula Asela and Rashin Chinthaka were abducted, detained and beaten inside a house in Akmeemana and murdered. Thereafter, their bodies were burnt inside a forest reserve. Several bone fragments were discovered from the forest reserve on the 22nd, and several more were discovered today(February 25) close to a waterway located nearby. According to our correspondent, bone fragments are suspected to have been washed away to nearby waterways due to the incessant rains in the area. Meanwhile, steps are being taken to transfer the remaining police officers of the special investigations unit attached to the office of the southern provincial Senior DIG. A Senior DIG stated that the Inspector General of Police had requested in writing to transfer the officers to a police station outside the Matara District. Twenty-five police officers are attached to this unit and fifteen of them were previously transferred to the Western Province by the IGP. Four of the transferred police officers are yet to assume their duties. Police Media Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara said that if they fail to report to work, they are to be considered as having resigned their positions. The Police added that orders have been issued to the respective police stations to record statements from the occupants of the houses belonging to the four officers who had failed to report to work. Chief Inspector Nishantha De Silva and Sub Inspector of the Southern Province SIU and Viraj Madushanka are currently in remand custody over the case. The Senior DIG of the Southern Province Ravi Wijegunawardena was also temporarily transferred to the Police Headquarters. Meanwhile, family members of the two businessmen met opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today (February 25).