Dad arrested for allegedly kidnapping own children

Yasaratne GAMAGE and Chandrika PERERA

The two children with their mother. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage

A father suspected of kidnapping his two children appeared before the Nugegoda Police along with the two children yesterday. The children’s mother had lodged a complaint with the Mirihana Police on September 5 that her two sons, Savin de Silva, 3 and Chamith, 1, had been kidnapped by an unknown group.

The boys were under the guardianship of their grandmother on a court order as the parents had filed a divorce case. The suspect father had allegedly sent three people to kidnap the children who were living in Mirihana, Nugegoda at their grandmother’s house.

Nugegoda Police arrested an uncle of the children who confessed that the children were in their father’s custody.

ASP Nugegoda Deshabandu Tennakoon deployed two teams to rescue the children. Meanwhile the father, Kumudula de Silva appeared before police with the children and handed them over to the mother. Police have handed over de Silva to Nugegoda Child and Women’s bureau OIC, IP Kusum Punchihewa who will produce the suspect before the Nugegoda Magistrate. The children will be sent for a medical check up although they appeared to be well, police said. The other suspect was remanded until September 20. Police are investigating to arrest three other suspects involved in the kidnapping.