Sri Lanka Police today released a sketch of a suspect in the recent abduction of two police officers and the murder of one of them in Kurunegala and the photograph of a suspect allegedly involved in the armed robbery of a fuel station in Weweldeniya on the same day.

Two police constables, on traffic duties, were abducted by a group in a van allegedly returning from a robbery at Badagamuwa, Kurunegala on May 5.

One of the officers, constable 41497 Sampath, was shot dead at the Badagamuwa forest while the other (constable 34098 Wijesuriya) had managed to escape from his captors. Wijesuriya is receiving treatment at the Kurunugala hospital for injuries.

A sketch of one of the abductors, as per a description given by the surviving officer, was released to media today.

The suspect in the sketch is believed to be between ages 30-32, around 5 feet and 4 inches tall and with a dark complexion.

Seeking public support to help identify the suspect, Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana urged anyone with information regarding the persons in the sketch or someone with similar features to immediately contact the police.

Police also believe that an armed robbery which had taken place in the Weweldeniya area on the same day may somehow be connected to the abduction of the police officers.

CCTV footage of the robbery, carried out by four armed men in a white van, was also released to the media along with a vague picture of what is believed to be one of the suspects.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo today, the police spokesman also requested from the public to report if they have identify the vehicle in the footage or the suspect n the photograph, which has been obtained from a fake driver’s license used to rent a van in Gokarella.

He stated that the vehicle was rented from the business place a day prior to the robbery and that although the information on the driver’s license is fake, they believe the photograph in it is authentic.  

Information regarding any of the two suspects or the van used in the robbery can be reported to the CID contact number - 077 2659336.

SSP Ajith Rohana further stated that a reward of Rs 1 million will be provided to correct information regarding any of the two suspect.