Four youths shot dead, execution style

Mahinda P Liyanage, Galle Daily News correspondent

Four bodies of youths, shot dead by an unidentified group or individual, were found at Walpitawatta Tea Estate in Andurathwila in the Poddala Police division, Galle yesterday. The slain persons were blindfolded and their hands and legs tied with strips of cloth before they were shot dead.Galle and Poddala Police are investigating.

One of those killed has been identified as a suspect wanted in connection with the killing of a Galle businessman by slashing him with a sharp weapon at Dickson Junction, Galle last month. The Police are investigating if the others killed were also linked to the same murder.

Baddegama acting Magistrate Buddhika Edirisinghe held the preliminary magisterial inquests into the deaths.

The victims were identified as Amal Nishanth of Pilana, Wanchawela Wijesekara Mohetti Jayantha of Eththiligoda, Janaka Puspakumara alias Chuti of Morris Road,Galle and Malith Madusanka of Eththiligoda, Galle.

The youths were aged between 25 and 30. Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the quadruple murders which took place in Poddala in Galle, the Police said yesterday.

The suspects were arrested in the Akmeemana area yesterday afternoon, Police spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody said.