Dematagoda Police have arrested five extortionists involved in abductions and demanding ransom at gunpoint from Tamils and Muslims in Colombo.
The arrest followed a complaint by Vadugarajah Senathilrajah that his friend Masiliamani Nethrarajah alias Suren a resident of Wattala was abducted by an unknown person near the Ranpa building in the Dematagoda Police area, demanding a ransom of Rs. five million.
HQI Dematagoda Police was instructed by the SSP to promptly initiate investigations on the abduction jointly by the Dematagoda and Kotahena Police.
The suspects are Dharmarana alias Ananda, Dinesh Kapilaratne, Vijith Kumaratna, Prabhath Chaminda and Upul Nishantha.
The complainant stated that on June 19 around 5.00 p.m. his brother Palintharan and Nethrarajah, who was later abducted, had given him a lift to Galle Face Hotel where he had a meeting. Thereafter he returned with his brother to his office at No. 32, Lauries Road Colombo 7.
Around 7.00 p.m. the complainant and his brother had collected Nethrarajah from Galle Face Hotel and arrived at Cinnamon Grand Hotel and near Crescat there was a call for Nethrarajah on his mobile telephone.
It transpired that the one Ananda was to meet him near Liberty Plaza. It also transpired that he had gone to meet the caller in a cab.
After about 10 minutes, Nethrarajah spoke to the complainant and stated he was proceeding to Punchi Borella to drop Ananda.
After another 30 minutes, the driver of the car Wanasundera Aracthchige Jenam Davidsion Perera rang the complainant stating that Ananda got down from the car near Siridhamma Mawatha and walked up, and with Four other unknown persons in the car, proceeded further, dropped Nethrarajah and threatened the driver to leave them.
Davidson Perera, a driver of a cab service, was well known to the complainant and Nethrarajah as they used his cab frequently.
As the message was received by the complainant he made further inquiries and while proceeding to the Dematagoda Police station, Nethrarajah spoke to the complainant on his mobile telephone and stated that some unknown persons had taken him by car and he was confined to a room demanding Rs. 5 million.
He was threatened not to inform the Police but was instructed to give the money to Ananda. Ananda was a resident of 151, Jayagaha, Batuwatte, Anuradhapura but the temporary address was Kokiskade Junction, Kirillawela, and works with Nethrarajah to provide foreign employment. Ananda also had dealings with those living in Siridhamma Mawatha, where the abduction had taken place.
The Police have also been ordered to take into custody car No. WPHS 6736. According to the statements of the suspects the person abducted Masilamani Nethrarajah was living in a room of a suspect Malawiaractchige Vijitha Kumararatna, 15, Chithampahuwa, Wellampitiya.
Investigations also reveal that the main suspect Ananda had in his possession a collection of Visas.
Investigations have so far revealed that the extortionists have close links with a foreign Embassy and were indulging in racketeering in visas. The suspects are in the custody of the Dematagoda Police. Investigations regarding the recent abductions are handled by SSP Jayantha Kulatilleka.
Investigations have been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department.
The arrest followed a complaint by Vadugarajah Senathilrajah that his friend Masiliamani Nethrarajah alias Suren a resident of Wattala was abducted by an unknown person near the Ranpa building in the Dematagoda Police area, demanding a ransom of Rs. five million.
HQI Dematagoda Police was instructed by the SSP to promptly initiate investigations on the abduction jointly by the Dematagoda and Kotahena Police.
The suspects are Dharmarana alias Ananda, Dinesh Kapilaratne, Vijith Kumaratna, Prabhath Chaminda and Upul Nishantha.
The complainant stated that on June 19 around 5.00 p.m. his brother Palintharan and Nethrarajah, who was later abducted, had given him a lift to Galle Face Hotel where he had a meeting. Thereafter he returned with his brother to his office at No. 32, Lauries Road Colombo 7.
Around 7.00 p.m. the complainant and his brother had collected Nethrarajah from Galle Face Hotel and arrived at Cinnamon Grand Hotel and near Crescat there was a call for Nethrarajah on his mobile telephone.
It transpired that the one Ananda was to meet him near Liberty Plaza. It also transpired that he had gone to meet the caller in a cab.
After about 10 minutes, Nethrarajah spoke to the complainant and stated he was proceeding to Punchi Borella to drop Ananda.
After another 30 minutes, the driver of the car Wanasundera Aracthchige Jenam Davidsion Perera rang the complainant stating that Ananda got down from the car near Siridhamma Mawatha and walked up, and with Four other unknown persons in the car, proceeded further, dropped Nethrarajah and threatened the driver to leave them.
Davidson Perera, a driver of a cab service, was well known to the complainant and Nethrarajah as they used his cab frequently.
As the message was received by the complainant he made further inquiries and while proceeding to the Dematagoda Police station, Nethrarajah spoke to the complainant on his mobile telephone and stated that some unknown persons had taken him by car and he was confined to a room demanding Rs. 5 million.
He was threatened not to inform the Police but was instructed to give the money to Ananda. Ananda was a resident of 151, Jayagaha, Batuwatte, Anuradhapura but the temporary address was Kokiskade Junction, Kirillawela, and works with Nethrarajah to provide foreign employment. Ananda also had dealings with those living in Siridhamma Mawatha, where the abduction had taken place.
The Police have also been ordered to take into custody car No. WPHS 6736. According to the statements of the suspects the person abducted Masilamani Nethrarajah was living in a room of a suspect Malawiaractchige Vijitha Kumararatna, 15, Chithampahuwa, Wellampitiya.
Investigations also reveal that the main suspect Ananda had in his possession a collection of Visas.
Investigations have so far revealed that the extortionists have close links with a foreign Embassy and were indulging in racketeering in visas. The suspects are in the custody of the Dematagoda Police. Investigations regarding the recent abductions are handled by SSP Jayantha Kulatilleka.
Investigations have been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department.
