Suspect in Police officer’s death remanded till 19 June

• No show by suspect in Court as he was placed at Dalupotha remand facility Offer of compensation to deceased Police officer’s family
• PC Alahapperuma posthumously promoted to rank of sergeant
• Funeral will take place on Wednesday

The driver of the Defender vehicle involved in the motor accident that killed a 22-year-old police constable was remanded till 19 June by Colombo Additional Magistrate Y. Prabhakaran yesterday.

The suspected Tharinda Katugaha Ratwatte (24) was not brought to court yesterday and was represented by Attorney Kalinga Indatissa PC.

The suspect has been placed at the Dalupotha Remand Facility, Negombo, run by the Prisons Department for remand prisoners post COVID-19.

The Magistrate ordered Prison officials to ensure the suspect is present in Court on 19 June when the court hearing is next scheduled.

Indatissa told the Court that the accident was not intentional, and his client is willing to pay compensation to the family of the deceased. Duleeka Yomal Alahapperuma, a Police Constable attached to the State Intelligence Service (SIS) who played a major role in recovering the Rs 7.9 million robbed from the Colombo National Hospital, passed away on Sunday from serious injuries he sustained in the accident, which took place at Thummulla on 11 June.

Police informed the Court that the accident took place between 10.50 p.m. and 11.15 p.m. on 11 June at Thummulla. The suspect had left his home at Barnes Place, Colombo 05 where a party was in progress to drop off a friend in Boralesgamuwa, and the accident had taken place when he was returning home.

The deceased Police officer had been on the pillion of the motorcycle which was involved in the incident with the Defender vehicle. The Police officer had sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) 0f the National Hospital where he died three days later.

After the accident, Ratwatte had remained at the scene of the accident. Police had taken him into custody, and had established that he was under the influence of liquor.

The Police report submitted to court blamed both parties for the accident.

Meanwhile the deceased PC Duleeka Yomal Alahapperuma was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant yesterday. His funeral will take place on Wednesday in his hometown of Nekum Wewa, Polonnaruwa.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated incorporating correct information.