DNA test confirms identity of decapitated female body found in suitcase

A DNA test has confirmed the decapitated body of a discovered at the Dam Street in Pettah belongs to the recently identified 30-year-old woman from Theppanawa in Kuruwita area, says the Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana.

The decapitated body stuffed in a suitcase was found abandoned at the said location on Monday (March 01).

The investigators decided to carry out a DNA test on as the head of the body was missing.

According to police spokesperson, the DNA test which was conducted by the Additional Government Analyst D.H.L.W. Jayamanne has confirmed that the DNA samples obtained from the decapitated female body matched with that of the mother and brother of the aforementioned woman from Kuruwita area.

Meanwhile, the post-mortem examination on the body has been scheduled for today.

CCTV footage obtained by the investigators had captured the suspect, who brought the suitcase to Dam Street, entering a rest house in Hanwella area along with a woman.

Surveillance cameras also showed the suspect, wearing a face mask, later getting into a Hanwella-Pettah bus plying on route 143 after leaving the lodging by himself.

Upon identifying the private bus in which the suspect had travelled in, the investigators had interrogated its driver and the conductor, who confirmed that a person carrying a suitcase got on to the bus from Hanwella.

After reaching Pettah, the suspect was seen dragging the suitcase along the road before leaving it on the roadside at Dam Street.

The suspect, identified as a 52-year-old Sub Inspector (SI) attached to Buttala Police who was on leave at the time of the incident, had later committed suicide by hanging.

His body was found from nearby woods in his residential area at Badalkumbura.