The Colombo Magistrate's Court today (24) granted the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) permission to detain and interrogate two Chinese nationals for 48 hours over the abduction and murder of another Chinese national near the Colombo Port City.
The body of the victim, who is suspected to have been killed by the two suspects, was discovered yesterday (23) concealed in a forested area in Karandana, Eheliyagoda.
According to police, three Chinese nationals had travelled in a cab to the Colombo Port City area during the early hours of the morning to engage in fishing.
Another group of Chinese nationals who arrived in two vehicles allegedly assaulted them, before abducting one of the victims and fleeing the scene. Police said the suspects abandoned one of the vans they had arrived in, and an air pistol was later recovered from the vehicle.
Meanwhile, a team of officers from the Eheliyagoda Police, who had gone to the Gettukade area in Karandana to conduct an illegal liquor raid, noticed a suspicious pile of rocks in a nearby forest.
Upon inspection, the officers had discovered what appeared to be part of a human arm. Further investigations confirmed that the remains belonged to a Chinese national and were later identified as those of the individual abducted from Colombo Port City.
The body was subsequently transferred to the Avissawella Hospital yesterday afternoon for further investigations.
Police also recovered a motor vehicle near the location where the body was found and suspect it had been used by the perpetrators to transport the victim's body.
Police Media Spokesman Assistant Superintendent of Police F.U. Wootler stated that the two Chinese suspects were arrested near the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake while allegedly attempting to flee the country.
The suspects have since been handed over to the Coastal Police Division for further investigations.
Police said investigations are continuing to arrest other suspects believed to be connected to the crime, while the motive behind the clash among the Chinese nationals has not yet been established.
