‘Club Wasantha’ murder suspects further remanded

The 11 suspects, including a female suspect, who were arrested in connection with the shooting and killing of two persons including Surendra Wasantha Perera alias ‘Club Wasantha’ in Athurigiriya, have been further remanded until September 02 by the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court, Ada Derana reporter said.

The order was issued after the defendants were produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court today (20) when case related to the incident was taken up before the court this afternoon.

The Kaduwela Magistrate also ordered that the investigations related to the incident be handed over to the Western Province (South) Crimes Division.

Based on the concerns raised by the attorneys who appeared on behalf of the accused that there are threats to the lives of their clients, the Magistrate also ordered that they be provided with the necessary security. 

Presenting facts before the court today (20), Athurugiriya Police, who is currently investigating the incident, informed that significant information has been uncovered regarding the two shooters involved in the incident. 

The postmortem reports of the two murdered individuals have been received by the court, and further examinations related to them have been scheduled for September 02.

Police had arrested eleven suspects including the owner of the tattoo studio in Athurugiriya where the shooting incident took place on July 08 and a 21-year-old female on suspicion of having aided and abetted in the shooting incident.

During the investigations carried out thus far, it has been revealed that the owner of the tattoo studio has received an amount of Rs. 1 million over a period of time.

The shocking shooting incident had occurred during the opening ceremony of a tattoo and piercing studio near the Clock Tower in Athurugiriya on July 08.

Six people were rushed to the hospital following the incident. Police later confirmed that 55-year-old businessman Surendra Wasantha Perera, popularly known as “Club Wasantha,” and a 38-year-old male had succumbed to their injuries.

Popular singer K. Sujeewa and Wasantha’s wife were reported to be among the four injured persons.

In the course of the investigation, the police discovered the van used by the suspects in an abandoned land in Bulathsinhala area. Additionally, the car used by the suspects to carry out the shooting was found abandoned in Kaduwela.