Triple murder suspect arrested after five years

Rafik Jalaldeen

WEERAGULA: A suspect in a triple murder was arrested by police, five years after the crime was committed. The crime was committed in Galaboda, Weeragula in 2000. Weeragula Police received a complaint in December 2000 that a woman and her two children were missing, Weeragula CI Magalegoda said.

"We were recently informed about a suspicious person who may have had a connection to the missing woman and her two children," he added. Weeragula police who arrested the suspect Nimal Jayatilaka, 34 last week questioned him.

Upon interrogation, Jayatilaka revealed that he had murdered the woman H.P.C Pathmini, 31 and her two children Amitha Medulal, 6 and I. Madhushani, eight months CI Magalegoda said.

Jayatilaka has told police that he had killed the three and buried them at the backyard of Pathmini's house. One year later Jayatilakae removed the bodies from where they were buried and burnt them to prevent identification. The motive of killing appeared to be rape. The suspect produced before Attanagalla Court was remanded.