The main suspect in the killing of ‘Club Wasantha’ in Athurugiriya, notorious underworld criminal figure Sujeewa Ruwankumara De Silva alias ‘Loku Pattie’ has been brought back to Sri Lanka from Belarus.

It was reported in August last year that ‘Loku Pattie’, who is implicated in multiple cases, was arrested in Belarus.

Accordingly, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had taken steps to bring him back to Sri Lanka.

He was brought back in a plane belonging to a private airline from Dubai this morning.

‘Loku Pattie’ is the main suspect of the shooting and killing of ‘Club Wasantha’ at a tattoo shop in Athurugiriya on 08 July 2024, and is suspected to have orchestrated and funded the assassination.

President of Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Dissanayaka arrived in Hanoi on May 4 morning, beginning a state visit to Vietnam and participation in the 20th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations (Vesak 2025) from May 4 to 6 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Luong Cuong.

Officials welcoming the Sri Lankan President and delegation at Noi Bai International Airport included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nong Thi Ha, Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam, and Sri Lankan Ambassador to Vietnam Perera Wewala Appuhamillage Udam Poshitha.

Establishing diplomatic ties on July 21, 1970, the two countries boast traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation. Political parties in Sri Lanka attach importance to relations with Vietnam and regards the latter as a model of economic development. Sri Lanka has recognised Vietnam’s full market economy status.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the visit, Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam stated that the trip is the first to Vietnam by a Sri Lankan head of state in 16 years, since 2009. It is also the first visit to the Southeast Asian nation by President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka since he took office in September 2024.

From Vietnam’s perspective, the visit reaffirms the respect for Sri Lanka as a traditional friend and important partner in South Asia, Tam explained, stressing as the two countries are celebrating the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, this is a good chance for them to reflect on the partnership and establish new directions for the relations in the new situation.

The trip will feature various activities, covering the pillars of politics, economy and culture, with the highlight being high-level talks and meetings as well as the signing of important cooperation documents.

The ambassador expressed her belief that the visit will mark the start of a new phase of bilateral cooperation that is more intensive and extensive, benefiting both countries and contributing to peace, cooperation, development, and prosperity in the region and the world.

Source: VNA

Two accused charged with the 2008 LTTE suicide bomb attack that targeted former President Maithripala Sirisena when he was Agriculture Minister have been in remand custody for nearly 16 years, it was revealed this week at the Colombo High Court.

When the trial began on Wednesday, lawyers for the two accused, Selvarajah Kirubakaran, alias “Morris”, and Thambiayah Prakash, alias “Danush”, requested the court to release their clients on bail. State Counsel Dhammika Udawatte, leading the prosecution, opposed granting bail to the accused, and Colombo High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuvida rejected the request to grant bail after accepting the objection raised by the prosecution.

While the defence had requested the accused to be released on bail under any condition, Mr. Udawatte said that given the trial against the accused has now begun, it would be an impediment to the case if the accused were to be released on bail now.

Four of Mr. Sirisena’s security officers were killed in the attack at Boralesgamuwa on October 9, 2008.

The two LTTE members have been indicted on 17 charges, including aiding and abetting the suicide bomber, identified as Sammugarasa Gajavalini, to launch an attack on Mr. Sirisena with the aim of assassinating him.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, former President Sirisena told court that he was terribly shaken by the incident and suffered from severe stress for about two weeks afterwards. Mr. Sirisena added that no police officer recorded his statement about the incident.

Recounting the attack, the former President said his driver had driven away at speed after noticing a woman, who was listening to someone on a mobile phone, walking rapidly towards their vehicle. The bomber could not intercept his vehicle due to the quick actions of the driver, and she ended up striking Mr. Sirisena’s backup vehicle that was behind him, setting off her explosives, the former President said.

Though the incident happened in 2008, it was only on December 18, 2023, that indictments were filed against the accused, with indictments being served against them in 2024, and the trial beginning this week. Further hearing into the case was put off till September 1

(sundaytimes.lk)
(This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)