No drugs link in Kahawatte killings
Priyanka Kurugaka
Public Administrfation and Home Affairs Minister W. D. J. Senevirate
yesterday dismissed reports that the Kahawatte serial murders were
connected to the drug business. Addresing the press at the Government
Information Department the Minister said legal action will be taken
against certain media outfits which were working to the agenda of vested
interests.
 "The Minister said he had no connection with any of the incidents,
adding that certain parties acted in a manner that hampered Police
investigations," he said.
"At present all suspects have been arrested except the one in the
last incident," he said.
The murders commenced in 2008 with the killing of 56 year old
Kotakethana Sellaviya .Thereafter, 15 women were killed. All victims
were over 50 years old . Most of them were raped.
According to Police, all murders were systematically planned .Some
bodies were headless while others were minus their limbs.
"We had discussions with a group of leading citizens in the area and
they and the Police say villagers are reluctant to come forward with any
information out of fear".
Police Spokesman Prasantha Jayakodi said the Kahawattha murders will
be solved within the next two weeks. All evidence have been gathered and
only the arrest is pending.
He said they had vital information about the last murder in
Kahawaththa. The sword and the torch used by the killer have been found.
"The Crime investigations Division is carrying out investigations in
this regard and all information cannot be divulged since this will
hamper police work," he said.
"Sri Lanka is at the top in crime detection among leading
countries.Therefore the Police will have no difficulty in getting to the
bottom of these murders," SSP Jayakody said. "Even though some cases get
delayed, the Police is constantly after the suspects until they are
brought before the law," he said .
Altogether, 16 incidents were reported in Kahawatte. Of these 14
relate to murder cases and 13 arrests have been made," he said.
"At present, security has been tightened in Kahawatte and the Police
are conducting a round the clock vigil. Accusations that politicians are
involved in these incidents are completely false", the SSP said.
"Former Kahawatte Police OIC Niranjan Abewardana was transferred. Two
murder cases occurred during his period. Due to public request, he was
appointed again, "he said. Jayawardanapura University Sociology
Department Senior Lecturer Dr Swarnalatha Perera also spoke.
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