Police lay dragnet for missing son

Wellawatte killings:

August 19, 2012, 9:55 pm

By Hemantha Randunu

The police have laid a dragnet to arrest the man who has gone missing since the mystery killing of his father, mother and sister at a rented house down Ramakrishna road, Wellawatte.

The decomposing bodies were discovered on Saturday after the owner of the house complained to the police of an unbearable stench.

Police believe the son considered the prime suspect may have committed the crime as the other members of his family had objected to his love affair. There had also been a dispute over inheritance. Investigations have also revealed that the suspect is neck-deep in debt.

Since there were no external injuries on the victims, the investigators suspect that they had been killed by administering a poison. The victims have been identified as 60-year-old Coomaraswamy (father), 58–year-old Poopathy (mother), and 23 –year-old Anathipriya (sister).

The suspect had worked as the Distribution Manager of a leading pharmaceutical importing company in Colombo for several years. Hailing from Kotagala, the 29-year-old suspect had been living in the house at No. 06 Ramakrishna road since coming to Colombo. It consists of two bedrooms, living room, and a small kitchen. On August 12 he had driven to Kotagala in his car and brought the three victims to his Wellwatte house claiming urgency. On the night of August 15 the neighbours had heard a bitter argument. The suspect was last seen locking up the place and leaving the following morning.

The police on Saturday broke open the doors of the house and found all three victims lying on a bed. The bodies, by that time had been decomposed. They had been covered with white sheets and moth balls had been placed on them. In addition, a perfume had been sprayed around the room to mask the stench, police said.

Investigations have also revealed that the moth balls and the scent had been purchased by the suspect from an outlet in Wellawatte on the 16th morning. That same evening he had gone to their residence at Kotagala, taken his belongings and some other items and have been missing ever since.