Tangalle SJB PS candidate remanded over murder of ARAO

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate for the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) who stabbed and killed Deepashika Lakruwani, a female Agricultural Research Assistant Officer

was ordered to be remanded until April 3 by the Tangalle Magistrate’s Courts yesterday.

Jayawardena Pathiranage Sarath (41) alis Danny Baby had cultivated a paddy field earlier after obtaining it on lease and now the owner is said to be cultivating it, according to police. He has requested a letter from the victim showing the above mentioned field to get free fertilizer. The police also say that since the owners have already obtained a letter to get fertilizer for the paddy field, she refused to give the letter.

The police also said that he then asked her to give a letter in the name of a person working at Hambantota Hospital who claimed to be his friend.

There she told him that she could not issue a letter without checking whether he has a paddy field. This officer is a resident of Moneragala. She had come to live in Tangalle Netolpitiya about a year ago after marriage.

She was staying at her husband’s house. Police said her husband is a Navy soldier.

As her husband comes home for vacation, she stays at home with her husband’s mother.

Police say that the distance between the house of the suspect and the house where she was staying is not even 200 meters.

Investigations have revealed that the murder was planned out of hatred towards her because she did not open the door of the house the night before and did not give a letter to obtain free fertilizer.