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Murder of Customs Officer:Police to seek Interpol India assistance

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Gampaha Police Special Branch which is conducting investigations assisted by the CID into the murder of the Customs Officer Sujith Prasanna Perera yesterday told the Colombo Additional Magistrate K. Priyantha Fernando that they have sought the assistance of the Interpol India to trace the Customs Officer Anura Weerawansa, the main suspect in the murder case.

Earlier on an application by the Police, the Magistrate issued a warrant for the arrest of the Assistant Superintendent of Customs Anura Weerawasnsa who is evading arrest.

Filing a further report in connection with the investigations Inspector Somasiri Liyanage, OIC, CDB, Gampaha Police Special Branch told court that the Customs Officer Anura Weerawansa who had escaped from the country is evading arrest. Police believe that the suspect is hiding in Madras -India.

The four suspects, Vajira Indrajith, Saman Udaya Kumar, R. M. Piyasena Ratnayake and A. D. Priyantha, who had been remanded in connection with the murder of Customs Officer Sujith Perera were yesterday further remanded till September 27. The Police said that the investigations into the murder was not yet completed.

The Police said that the other suspects will be charged on five counts including conspiracy, concealing evidence, harbouring and assisting, Customs Officer Anura Weerawansa, the principal suspect in the Customs Officer Sujith Perara's murder.

Earlier Inspector Somasiri Liyanage, OIC, CDB, Gampaha Police Special Branch said that the dossier on the investigations in connection with main case of murder of Customs Officer Sujith Prasanna Perera had been forwarded to the Attorney General and they were awaiting a reply. The Magistrate refused an applicatin for the release of the passports of two suspects, an Indian national and his Sri Lankan wife.

Inspectors Somasiri Liyanage, D.M. Jayasinghe, Sagara Liyanage, and Camillus appeared for the prosecution.

Western Province North DIG Daya Jayasundera is directing investigations assisted by Detective SP Nimal Kulatunga.

Mr. Neville Abeyratne, Mr. Gajan Ponnambala and Mr. Rohan Semasinghe appeared for the suspects.

Customs Officer Perera was gunned down by two gunmen at the Kiribathgoda - Peliyagoda junction on March 24 while returning from his mother-in-law's place.

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