Indunil Kahatapitiya
The investigation into the murder of Ambalangoda Singer Company Manager, Santiago Hiran Kosala de Silva, which took place on the 22nd, has now been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). This decision was taken after investigations revealed the nature of a criminal network allegedly linked to former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon.
It can be argued that Deshabandu Tennakoon may not have been aware that Kosala’s killers had been staying at his house in Ampitiya since December 7, or that they had returned there after the murder. However, the real concern is that organised criminals were confident enough to use the former IGP’s house as a safe house, without fear or suspicion.
This confidence and calculated boldness of the criminals is currently the most serious piece of evidence before investigators.
As is now widely known, it was the notorious southern underworld figure Karandeniya Sudda who directed the shooter and the motorcycle rider involved in the Ambalangoda Singer murder to the Ampitiya house belonging to the former IGP.
This entire situation must be examined carefully and intelligently, based on the information now emerging.
The caretaker of the Ampitiya house has informed investigators that the shooter and the motorcycle rider had been staying there since December 7. The driver who transported the suspects from Kandy to Ambalangoda and back to Kandy after the murder also been arrested. The two suspects reportedly left the house around December 21.
According to investigations, they were taken from the Ampitiya house to Ambalangoda in a white Toyota Corolla bearing registration number WP KJ – 2769.
After arriving in Ambalangoda, the shooter and the motorcycle rider received two firearms and a motorcycle. Once informants confirmed that Hiran Kosala was inside the Singer showroom, the rider took the shooter on a motorcycle bearing registration number ZR BEM – 3513, which at the time carried a fake registration number WP BFQ – 5853.
Investigations have revealed that one firearm malfunctioned during the attack. The shooter then returned to the motorcycle, retrieved the second weapon, and continued firing.
Trail After the Murder
After the murder, the shooter and the rider handed over the motorcycle to another individual along the way and traveled by bus to Mount Lavinia. The car that transported them from Ampitiya was already in Mount Lavinia. From there, they boarded the car and travelled to a construction site in Makola.
The house in Kandy, said to belong to Deshabandu Tennakoon, had been renovated by the contractor who owns this Makola construction site. Investigations revealed that this contractor is a resident of Mahara, Kadawatha, with connections to Elpitiya. Based on this information, CID officers arrested the contractor.
During questioning, it was revealed that the contractor was involved in arranging accommodation for the killers from the beginning.
The contractor stated that he was entrusted with the renovation of the Kandy house by a man known as “Ran Mahattaya.” Ran Mahattaya was subsequently arrested and questioned.
During interrogation, Ran Mahattaya disclosed that the renovation work was carried out on the instructions of Karandeniya Sudda, who also made the payments. He further revealed that Sudda, through himself and the contractor, had arranged for the shooter and the motorcycle rider involved in the Kosala murder to stay at the Ampitiya house.
Criminals Return to Ampitiya House
After the murder, the suspects were once again brought to the Ampitiya house by the same driver who transported them earlier. This driver has now been arrested along with the vehicle.
At present, those arrested include the driver, the firearms (a revolver and a pistol), the woman who allegedly supplied the weapons, the individuals who conducted surveillance for the murder, Ran Mahattaya, and the Makola contractor. A total of eight suspects are currently in custody.
This incident raises serious questions regarding Deshabandu Tennakoon’s alleged links to the drug mafia. Within police circles, his conduct in relation to drug dealers and underworld figures had long been a subject of concern.
The disturbing truth emerging from this investigation reveals how deeply intertwined power, money, and organised crime have become. This power is strong enough not only to crush the hopes of ordinary people, but even to destabilize governments.
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