Killing of Southern Provincial Minister Chandi Malli

Police awaits AG's advice to file action

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) probing the killing of Southern Provincial Council Minister M.K. Ranjith alias Chandi Malli on Friday told the Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Sarath C. Karunaratne that the dossier of the investigations had been forwarded to the Attorney General and awaiting for his advice to file action against the suspects now in remand custody.

Earlier, officers of the Colombo Magazine Remand Prison informed the Judge that V.G. Jagath Kumara alias Pallaththera Jagath, the third suspect in the killing who was at Matara Remand Prison had been missing from the Prison after the tsunami tragedy on December 26.

The Prison officer also told court on the last occasion that several suspects who had been at the Matara prison escaped after a wall had collapsed at the Prison premises following the tsunami.

The other suspects in the case are R.W. Jayaratne alias Rhula, R.W. Jayawardena, A.A. Wijelal, H.A. Prasanna alias Podi Malli and M.A. Sugath alias Loku Malli. They were further remanded till January 26.

Earlier, the Court allowed an application by the officials of the CCD to send the T 56 used in the killing and the other items collected at the scene of the incident including several spent bullets to the Government Analyst for a comprehensive report.

The investigators arrested six suspects who are alleged to have involved in the killing. Sunil Ratnaweera, main suspect in the case was killed while he was being taken to the Tangalle remand Prison from the Embilipitiya Magistrate Court on August 20, 2003.

The suspects were not produced before court for security reasons. Court directed the Prison authorities to produce them before the Special Court at the Prison premises.

The Provincial Council Minister was shot dead by unidentified gunmen close to the High Security Zone, York Street, Colombo on May 25 morning. He was killed while returning after appearing before the CID on a court order.

Southern Range DIG D.W. Prathapasinghe is directing investigations conducted by CCD Director, Senior SP Sarath Lugoda and assisted by ASPs Palitha Fernando, Hettiarachchi, RSI C.B.K. Iddamalgoda, Sergeant Jayasena, Constable Gamini and team of officers of the CCD.