A case of mistaken identity

Asela KURULUWANSA and Thilak PUSHPAKUMARA SENANAYAKE

Sixteen year old Methila Ratnayake, a year 11 student of Dharmaraja Vidyalaya, Kandy was accidently shot dead by a villager at Thalathuoya, Maligathenna on Thursday. The incident is alleged to have taken place when the villagers of Maligathenna were on the look out for a suspicious character who was lurking in the area.

The student who happened to go to Thalathuoya was shot by a person who was under the influence of liquor, thinking that he (student) was the suspicious character whom the villagers were on the look out for.

The man who allegedly shot the student was arrested.

A police team led by Thalathuoya OIC Karunaratne Gammanpila is conducting further investigations under the guidance of Central Province Senior DIG H M B Ambanwala and Kandy Division SSP I M Karunaratne.