The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been tasked with investigating the suspicious death of husband of a journalist, following a directive from Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate Hemali Halpandeniya. The court has ordered the CID Director to appear on March 18, as the autopsy confirmed the cause of death.
It is stated that the person who died mysteriously is a 60-year-old man named Augustine Samarajeewa, a resident of Waidya Road in Dehiwala. Samarajeewa was reported missing after leaving for work on January 1. The next day, January 2, he was found critically injured with bruises at Colombo South Teaching Hospital.
Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries on January 3.
It was revealed in court that the Dehiwala Police received a 119 emergency call from a former Air Force officer, stating that the victim was found in the yard of a lawyer’s house on Hill Street, Dehiwala. However, concerns were raised that the victim had been washed and changed into different clothes before police arrival, raising suspicions about tampering with evidence. Attorney Geethma Fernando, representing the injured party, alleged that Dehiwala Police failed to conduct a proper investigation.
While the police stated that they had recorded statements from the homeowner and residents, the autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma, further deepening concerns
The relevant case is scheduled to be taken up again on March 18th
