The post-mortem examination has confirmed that the death of a physiotherapist attached to Ampara Hospital, whose body was found inside a car in the Teldeniya area, was a homicide caused by strangulation.
The victim, 33-year-old Shyama, a resident of Weligama, was found dead in a car parked near Teldeniya Hospital on June 17. Her death, which shocked the country, prompted police to launch an extensive investigation.
As a result of the investigations, officers of the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Unit arrested the main suspect in the murder, along with his wife and a young child, early yesterday (24).
Couple Arrested While Travelling by Bus in Jaffna
The main suspect, a 43-year-old man alleged to have been Shyama’s lover, and his 35-year-old wife, a resident of Kosgolla, Horombawa, were arrested while travelling on a bus in the Kaithady area of Chavakachcheri, Jaffna. The arrest was carried out by a team of officers attached to the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Unit.
Meanwhile, officers of the Nuwara Eliya Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau also arrested a 49-year-old resident of Rajawella on charges of aiding and abetting the main suspect while he was in hiding.
The arrested suspects were handed over to the Nuwara Eliya Police Station last night (24) for further investigations, according to the Police Media Division.
CCTV Footage and the Hotel Room Mystery
Investigations have revealed that Shyama had been staying at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya from June 3 to June 16. CCTV footage showing the suspect carrying Shyama’s body out of the hotel room was later released to the media, leading police to intensify their investigations.
The arrests were made following a seven-day special operation conducted jointly by the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Unit and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), with technical assistance from the CID, under the instructions of IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya.
Suspect’s Claim Contradicted by Post-Mortem Findings
During police questioning, the main suspect claimed that he found Shyama hanging when he entered the room where she had been staying. He told investigators that, out of fear, he placed the body in a car and transported it to Teldeniya.
However, the post-mortem examination contradicted his account, revealing that Shyama had died as a result of strangulation.
Further investigations are being conducted by the Nuwara Eliya and Teldeniya police.
