Norman Palihawadana
Chairman of the Dematagoda Traders’ Union, Lalith Gunaratne yesterday said that his abductors had seized Rs. 60,000 he had in his possession along with two gold rings. Gunaratne said, “The gang comprised four persons. They wore military-type uniforms. They dragged me into freezer truck, tied my hands and blindfolded me.
They interrogated me regarding my involvement in the heroin trade and the underworld,” Gunaratne said.
A massive traffic pile up was witnessed on the Baseline Road, in both directions, from early morning Tuesday as large crowds gathered at Dematagoda Junction to protest Gunaratne’s abduction by a group that arrived in a white van. He had been proceeding to the Peliyagoda Fish Market in a lorry with a driver when the incident took place at Orugodawatte.
The gang later released Gunaratne in the Negombo police area.
IS