Image: Hiran Kosala, the victim.
(Sri Lanka Brief)
Investigations into the murder of Hiran Kosala, a team leader candidate for the Ambalangoda Municipal Council from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Party, have uncovered shocking details linking the suspects to a property allegedly owned by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon.
Kosala was shot dead on 22 December in Ambalangoda. Police say the shooter and the motorcyclist who aided his escape were hiding in a house in Ampitiya, Kandy, reportedly belonging to Tennakoon. A raid by the Police Special Task Force (STF) failed to capture the suspects, who had fled before officers arrived.
A security guard revealed that the pair had been staying at the property since 7 December and returned there after the killing. STF officers later discovered several suspicious SIM cards in the room occupied by the fugitives.
Authorities confirmed the house belongs to Tennakoon through electricity and water bills obtained through the local Grama Niladhari. The property is already under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Unlawful Assets Division for alleged money laundering.
Contract Killing and Underworld Links
Police investigations indicate that Kosala’s murder was a contract killing orchestrated by two underworld figures, Kosgoda Sujee and Karandeniya Sudda, with whom Kosala allegedly had close ties. The Kandy property’s roof was under renovation at the time, and Karandeniya Sudda is believed to have arranged the work and accommodation for the shooter and motorcyclist.
On 27 December, IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya ordered the case to be fully transferred to the CID.
Arrests and Weapons Recovery
Eight suspects, including a woman, have been arrested by the STF, Southern Crime Division, and Ambalangoda Police. The revolver and pistol used in the killing were recovered following interrogation.
The prime suspect, Rambukkana Gamage Janath Kanchana (36), was arrested on 24 December and is detained until 30 December. Police say he disposed of the getaway motorcycle and burned his clothes before fleeing. He was later arrested in Kollupitiya.
Other suspects were remanded until 7 January by Acting Magistrate Sanjaya Kodituwakku. They include individuals from Kadawatha, Pitigala, Rathgama, Baddegama, and Hikkaduwa.
Escape Route and Evidence
The shooter and motorcyclist reportedly travelled to Ambalangoda in a white Toyota Corolla (WP KJ–2769). After the attack, they abandoned the motorcycle—bearing a false plate WP BFQ–5853—and escaped by bus to Mount Lavinia, where they boarded the same car.
They later visited a work site in Makola linked to a contractor renovating the Kandy house. Police say the renovation contract was arranged by Karandeniya Sudda through intermediaries known as Ran Mahathaya and Aruna.
The suspects fled the Kandy property after Ran Mahathaya’s arrest, discarding their SIM cards. Attempts to contact Tennakoon by Media for comment have failed, and police have yet to record his statement. A senior officer confirmed that Tennakoon will be questioned as investigations continue.
Note: The above news article does not imply that the police reports are accepted as fact. The information provided is based on what the media has reported as being said by the police. In many instances Sri Lankan police have fabricate stories to suit themselves and their political bosses. We request readers not to accept police reports as the complete truth, until will be fairly proven in court.
(With the inputs from a Sinhala language news story published by Satahan Website)