Suspect arrested over ‘Oxford Athula’s’ killing

The Police arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of the owner of a vehicle garage in Weeraketiya known as Oxford Athula.

Investigations have revealed that Athula Ratnayake (53) alias Oxford Athula was shot dead by a group including his sister’s son.

Although the shooter had tried to kill Athula’s son as well, he had escaped.A group of four people who came in a car shot and killed Athula on Sunday near his garage in Hakurugoda, Gurugodella, Weeraketiya. They had fled after the shooting. Police say that the shooter is a known criminal called Sigithi Kaluwa. The son of the deceased had clearly identified the shooter. In 2013, the Police had arrested Sigithi Kaluwa in connection with the shooting to death of a criminal named Dadigama Ukkuwa.

Sigithi Kaluwa since then had harboured suspicions that Ratnayake had given information to the Police over the shooting. It is said that he had attempted to kill Ratnayake on several occasions.The Police say the arrested suspects helped those who had come to kill Ratnayake. The Police are questioning the suspect.