Namal Gunawardena killing: Suspect surrenders

by Sarath Malalasekera

Sanjey Siriwardena, former Development Lotteries Board officer, who was wanted in connection with the killing of Western Province Council member Namal Gunawardena, yesterday surrendered before the Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Sarath C. Karunaratne and remanded till May 4.

Judge Karunaratne allowed an application made by ASP Palitha Fernando who appeared with Inspector Nuwan Wedisinghe, OIC, Colombo Crime Division (CCD) to record a statement from suspect Sanjey Siriwardena at the remand prison by Inspector Nuwan Wedisinghe.

Earlier the two suspects in the Western Provincial Council member Namal Gunawardena murder case made two confessions before the Colombo Judge Karunaratne.

The two suspects are Nishantha Udaya Kumara and Sampath Kumara Wijewardena. The Judge directed the Prison authorities to produce the three suspects before the Special Court in the Prison premises on May 4.

The CCD officials told court that the suspect Siriwardena was wanted in connection with the killing of Western Province Council member Gunawardena on October 11 at Dharmaraja Mawatha, Kollupitiya.

According to the statements of two suspects, now in remand custody in connection with the killing of Colombo High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya and his police bodyguard Upali, Sanjey Siriwardena is alleged to have aided and abetted the killing of Namal Gunawardena, the CCD officials told court.

The killers are alleged to have used the same weapon that they used to kill Judge Ambepitiya, to kill Gunawardena, the investigators said. CCD Director Senior SP Sarath Lugoda is directing investigations assisted by ASPs Rohana Jayawardena, Palitha Fernando, Ranmal Kodituwakku and a team of officers of the CCD.

Jayantha Dias Nanayakkara with Prasanna Weerasekera and Kingsley Hettiarachchi appeared for Siriwardena.