General

Police have uncovered a series of new details in the high-profile double murder of a lawyer and his wife, who were shot and killed at a supermarket parking lot in Akuregoda on February 13. Investigators say a resident of Kottawa has been arrested for allegedly transporting the two gunmen to lodging houses prior to the killings. He was taken into custody by officers of the Western Province South Crime Division. According to police, the individual had acted on the instructions of an alleged underworld figure known as “Malwane Tutu,” who is believed to be operating from overseas. The suspect is said to have secured accommodation for the gunmen under false identities. Authorities further revealed that the arrested suspect is an ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine) user and is suspected to have been involved in drug trafficking activities linked to Malwane Tutu. With his arrest, the number of suspects taken into custody in connection with the Akuregoda double murder has risen to 10, including one of the alleged gunmen. Meanwhile, a 46-year-old suspect who was arrested while working at a cinnamon plantation in Delduwa, Ambalangoda, has also provided crucial information during interrogation. The suspect had claimed to investigators that he became acquainted with an individual known as “Karandeniya Sudda” during his time in the Sri Lanka Army, where both had followed training courses. After leaving the military, he claimed to have engaged in robberies to make a living and was at one point remanded in custody over a robbery. During that period, Karandeniya Sudda had also been remanded over a murder, and the two reportedly developed a close association. The suspect further stated that after being released on bail, he sought Rs. 150,000 from Karandeniya Sudda for his daughter’s expenses. He also alleged that Sudda had supplied him with heroin on multiple occasions.