Killings at Kotte Rajamahaviharaya: five witnesses identify suspects

By T. Farook Thajudeen

At an identification parade held yesterday before Nugegoda Acting Magistrate five eye witnesses identified two suspects as those who killed the two theras at the  Rajamaha Viharaya of Kotte on the night of 20 March.

The  parade was  held before  Nugegoda Acting  Magistrate Tissa Wijeratne  and  the two suspects Pathirage Harsha Manjusri Manikeerthi Perera and  Nammuni Arachchge Suresh Chanaka were identified by a monk, a woman and two males who were said to be at the scene of the crime of the killing of the two monks Venerable  Pandit Pitigala Ginaratna  thera and  Venerable Boralesgamuwe Guneratna thera on 20 March at around 9.30p.m.

The second suspect Nammuni Arachchge Suresh Chanaka was identified to have stabbed the two monks while the first suspect was identified as an accomplice in the crime consequent to the investigations carried out.

Among six eye witnesses, except for one woman, all other five identified the suspects who were remanded till 4 May by the Magistrate.