Last year’s Kingswood College rugby captain Gayan Sandaruwan Ratnage, his brother Ruchira Sandaruwan Ratnage and their father were remanded by the Kandy Magistrate until the June 1, 2009 for the alleged murder of a three wheel driver on Wednesday night.

The Crime Branch of the Kandy Police Station said the Ratnage brothers and their father Dharmasiri Ratnage have been remanded for their alleged involvement in the killing of the 31-year-old over a personal dispute.

Inspector of Police Jinadasa told ‘The Island’ that according to the complaint, the incident had occurred on Wednesday night around 6.00 p.m. in the Heerassagala area where a musical show had been held to mark the liberation of the country from terrorism.

It is reported that Dharmasiri Ratnage, father of Gayan, had pushed aside the three wheeler belonging to the victim since it had obstructed access to his shop which had resulted in a damage to the vehicle. Subsequently, an argument that had broken out between the two parties had led to a situation where Ruchira Ratnage had struck the victim on his head with a ‘Kithul’ pole. The victim, Bibile, succumbed to his injuries at the Kandy General Hospital. It is learnt that the assault on the victim had been the result of a similar attempt on the first accused, the father of the two ruggerites. It is learnt that Dharmasiri Ratnage is currently warded in the ICU of Kandy General Hospital.

The Ratnage brothers, of Kingswood College, had visited the scene on receiving a phone call while at practice at Nittawela with Kandy SC.

Kandy Police is carrying out investigations.

The deceased, also a past pupil of Kingswood College was a father of two.