Police to investigate into murder allegations against Sripathi

Razeena Razick

COLOMBO:Colombo Additional Magistrate Sujeewa Nissanka yesterday granted permission to the Gampaha District Crime Investigation Unit to inquire into a double murder where former Minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi is alleged to have involved. The victims are a former security officer of the Ex Minister and another person.

The Gampaha District Unresolved Crime Investigation Unit informed courts that Ex Minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi’s security officer M. Roshan and Janaka Premakumara was shot dead two years ago near his (Minister’s) office.

The victim Roshan’s wife had made a statement to the Sunday Leader Newspaper. The Police also requested the courts to issue an order to hand over the relevant tape to the police.

The Magistrate ordered the Sunday Leader editor to hand over the tape to the police. He also ordered the Superintendent of Welikada Prison to arrange facilities for SP Deshabandu Tennakoon to question the ex minister. The Magistrate permitted the Police to question Sunday Leader Journalist Fedrica Jansz who wrote the article published on 12 June 2005 relating to the victim’s wife’s statement.

Gampaha Unit OIC O.K.T. Nanayakkara informed courts that the investigations into certain details of the article has unearthed information pertaining to the killing. The victim M. Roshan had served the Minister as a Security officer. It has transpired that the Roshan had many disputes with the Minister and the Minister had said that the UNP was responsible for the killing.

Victim’s wife said that Sooriyaarachchi was responsible for the killing. According to her interview with the Sunday Leader, the Police produced six suspects arrested in connection with the murder and the Magistrate ordered the Sunday Leader editor to hand over the tape and permitted the Police to make inquiries as requested and order to file a report to court tomorrow (26).