Two more arrested over Tangalle Cop killing

COLOMBO (News1st); Sri Lanka Police have arrested another suspect in connection to the incident where a Police Officer was beaten to death by a mob of 15 people in Vitharandeniya, Tangalle on the 17th of February 2022.

The suspect is a 40-year-old man from Weeraketiya and he was remanded until the 4th of March, said Police.

Another suspect in connection to the incident was arrested on the 22nd of February 2022 from Sooriyawewa, said Police.

The 35-year-old suspect, a resident of Weeraketiya will be produced to the Tangalle Magistrate on Wednesday (23).

On the 19th of February 2022, four suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of the police constable, and among was the woman who was involved in several altercations with the deceased.

The Incident :

Sri Lanka Police 18th February revealed details surrounding the murder of a police constable in Tangalle, the previous night.

Sri Lanka Police said two people were seriously injured following an assault by a group, after a heated argument in Vithrandeniya, Tangalle.

One person died upon admission to the Tangalle Hospital and he was identified as 34-year-old Vidanagamage Chathuranga Dilshan, a police constable attached to the Expressway Tourist Police Division. (Badge Number: 66817).

Sri Lanka Police said a neighboring woman was involved in several altercations with the occupants of the deceased Police Constable’s residence, while a man from Weeraketiya was constructing a hotel on land located close by,

A police report said the owner of the hotel frequently flies overseas and had returned on the 17th of February 2022.

Sri Lanka Police said that on that particular night around 15 workers at the construction site had organized a party with alcohol.

Information revealed that the woman who was involved in altercations with the deceased police constable’s family had maintained a close relationship with the hotel owner, and she too had attended the party in question.

Sri Lanka Police said thereafter, the owner of the hotel along with the woman in question, had got into an argument with the deceased police constable and his brother.

Thereafter, the hotel owner and the workers had entered the police constable’s residence and attacked him, his wife, and his bother.

Following the in-house attack, the group had taken away the police constable and his brother to the hotel premises and beaten them in an inhumane manner.

The two men were admitted to the Tangalle Hospital and upon admission, the police constable was ruled as deceased.

The police constable’s brother was transferred to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital for treatment and is currently unconscious at the Intensive Care Unit.