This update released 18 January 2010.
North Western Province
Murder in Kurunegala
According to Mr. Manjula Bandara (son of Member of Parliament and UNP
Organizer for Wariyapola Ms. Amara Piyaseeli), between 12.30am and
1.00am this morning, Mr. Dhammika Herath (also known as Manju) was
beaten to death by supporters of Minister of Rural Industries &
Self-Employment Promotion S.B. Navinne. Mr. Herath was pronounced dead
on arrival at the Wariyapola Hospital, and the body has been sent to the
Kurunegala Consultant JMO Dr. H.M.K. Senanayake for the postmortem.
According to Dr. Senanayake, the postmortem has been concluded, and the
cause of death has been established as damage to the spinal chord as a
result of a blow to the back of the neck. He added that the body also
contained 7 bruises.
According to eyewitness information received by Dr. Senanayake, the
assailants attacked the group, during which one person fell to the
ground, and the assailants fled the scene subsequently. The fact that
Mr. Herath had passed away was noted only while taking him to the
hospital.