Youth Abducted, Shot — Family Says He Was Targeted for Speaking Out

by Zulfick Farzan 01-07-2025 | 5:12 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); A chilling incident unfolded on Monday night around 9:00 PM in the Koskella area along Andana Road in Kahawatte, when a group of unidentified individuals—dressed in civilian clothing—arrived at a residence claiming to be police officers.

According to residents, the group attempted to abduct twin brothers and a friend from the house. One of the brothers managed to escape and later told reporters that he had hidden nearby and witnessed the events.

“One of them had a phone showing my brother’s photo,” said the surviving brother.

“They received a call and asked who they had. When they confirmed it was Deshan, they hit him, cuffed him, loaded a pistol, and pointed it at his head. My brother begged them to show police ID, but they never did.”

Residents say the group forcibly took away two young men. Complaints were later filed with both the local police and the Special Task Force.

Police confirmed that the two youths were taken in a jeep to a remote area in Koskella, approximately 4 kilometers from the residence, where the shooting occurred. A pistol is believed to have been used.

The deceased has been identified as Iranta Suranjana, a 22-year-old youth. The second individual, aged 27, was injured and is currently receiving treatment at Kahawatta Hospital.

Family members of the deceased claim that he and others in the household had received multiple threats in recent weeks.

“We received more than 10 death threats via video calls,” said the brother. “They said all five of us would be shot because we had filed entries with the police against drug peddling.”

The mother of the deceased also spoke out, “Please don’t kill my son. When we went to the police, they accused him of selling drugs and ice. They threatened to remand me too if I filed a false complaint. My son was not involved in drugs. He stood up against injustice in the village—and that’s why he was killed.”

She added that despite repeated calls, no police officer responded to their pleas on the night of the incident.

However, police have denied the allegations, stating that no formal complaints regarding threats had been made by the deceased or his family.