Morawinna massacre: main suspect shot dead

Panadura group corr.

Panadura: Lidamulage Gayan Menaka de Silva, 24, of Galawilawatte, Morawinna, Panadura, the main suspect in the killing of five youths at Goluwakotuwa Canal on Sunday was shot dead by the Panadura Police when he attempted to hurl a hand granade at the police officers.

The suspect was arrested by a special police team led by OIC Wadduwa Police, Inspector Nimal Karunaratne on Monday night.

He had promised to hand over the weapons used in the killing and he was brought to Madupitiya where he had hidden the weapons.

The suspect had suddenly hurled a hand grande at police officers when he was taken to the place where the weapons were hiddens.

A policeman who saw this had promptly fired at him and repulsed his attempt in the defence of the police officers. The suspect died on admission to the Panadura Base Hospital.

Panadura Magistrate Jagath A. Kahadagamage who visited the scene, ordered the AJMO to perform the autopsy on the body and submit a report to court.

Panadura SSP Sumith Edirisinghe, ASP H.M. Dharmasena, HQI Udaya Amaratunga visited the scene.