Court allows police to detain two Chinese suspects for 48 hours over Port City killing

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Friday allowed the Colombo Crimes Division to detain and question for 48 hours two Chinese nationals arrested over the alleged abduction and killing of another Chinese national at Colombo Port City.

Police found the victim’s body on Thursday concealed in a forested area at Karandana in Eheliyagoda.

According to police, three Chinese nationals had travelled by cab to Colombo Port City early that morning to fish. Another group of Chinese nationals later arrived in two vehicles and allegedly attacked them.

The assailants abducted one of the men before abandoning a van and fleeing the scene. Police later recovered an air pistol from the vehicle.

Officers from the Eheliyagoda Police discovered a suspicious pile of rocks in a forested area while conducting a raid on an illicit liquor operation at Gettukade in Karandana.

They inspected the site after noticing part of a human hand protruding from the rocks and found a body concealed beneath them.

Investigators identified the victim as a Chinese national and later confirmed that he was the man allegedly abducted from Colombo Port City.

Police transferred the body to Avissawella Hospital on Thursday afternoon for further examination.

Officers also found a car near the site and suspect that the assailants used it to transport the body.

Police arrested the two Chinese suspects near Bandaranaike International Airport while they were allegedly attempting to leave Sri Lanka, Police Media Spokesman Assistant Superintendent of Police F.U. Wootler said.

The suspects were taken to the Foreshore Police Station before the Colombo Crimes Division sought court approval to detain them for questioning.

Police are searching for other suspects believed to have been involved in the incident.

Investigators have yet to establish the motive behind the clash.