TID arrests two Army Corporals in connection with Kandy violence

Two Army Corporals were arrested yesterday (9 April) by the Terrorism Investigation Division in connection with the recent communal violence in Kandy last month.

According to Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara, the two suspects, Subasinghe Mudiyansalage Anura Bandara Wijesinghe (34) and Malwanegedara Hasitha Wijeratna (38), are Army Corporals currently in active service. Wijesinghe is stationed at the 143 Balasena Headquarters in Puttalam, while Wijeratne is stationed at the army camp in Dambuluhalmilla, Kekirawa.Both are residents of Ambatenna, Kandy. The two suspects were arrested for setting fire and causing damages to shops and a religious site in the Ambatenna region in Kandy.

They are to be produced before the Ambatenna Police headquarters today (10 April).

Teldeniya, Digana and other areas of the Kandy District were besieged by ethnic violence early last month, resulting in two fatalities and the destruction of hundreds of properties, including shops and vehicles. Investigations have resulted in over 300 arrests, including the apprehension of Amith Weerasinghe, the leader of the Sinhala extremist group Mahason Balakaya.

Meanwhile a recently elected SLPP member of the Kundasale Pradeshiya Sabha was also arrested by the TID on 28 March for causing damages to businesses and places of religious worship at Digana, Kandy. (SG)