Underworld criminal hacked to death

A 22-year-old underworld criminal was hacked to death by a father and his two sons at Idamthota in Ambalangoda on Sunday.

The deceased is said to be an accomplice of underworld kingpin Wasantha Soysa, who was shot dead last year. The man who was shot dead had become Wasantha Soysa’s successor and was running underworld activities in the Idamthota area.

The murdered victim H.H.U. Mendis is a resident of Madampe, Ambalangoda.

According to Police, the deceased had been in remand custody in connection with several crimes committed by him and was on bail when he was murdered on Sunday.

After being released on bail, he had been living in the Galle area without coming to his home at Madampe for nearly one month. On the day before the murder (25), he had come to his house with the intention of joining his family on a pilgrimage to Kataragama.

“However, on the same night he had left his house to participate in a Pirith Chanting ceremony at a neighbour’s house. While on the way he had been involved in an argument with another party which led to his murder,” Police said. “A person called Raja Sarath and his sons had attacked the victim with sharp objects and he was pronounced dead after being admitted to the Balapitiya Hospital,” Police said. Ambalangoda Police are conducting further investigations.