Chinese Gang Clash Spills Into Colombo? Abducted Man Found Bound and Dead Hours Later

COLOMBO (News 1st); A suspected rivalry between Chinese groups operating in Sri Lanka has erupted into a major criminal investigation after an alleged abduction inside Colombo Port City ended with the discovery of a Chinese national's body in a forested area of Eheliyagoda just hours later.

Police investigations indicate that three Chinese nationals arrived at Colombo Port City at around 11.00 p.m. on Wednesday (22) in a cab hired on a rental basis. The three men had reportedly been fishing from the suspension bridge within the Port City premises when the incident unfolded.

According to investigators, between 2.00 a.m. and 3.00 a.m. on Thursday (24), approximately 20 Chinese nationals arrived at the location in a black van. Police said the group confronted the three men on the bridge, threatened them with two pistols, tied their hands and legs, covered their faces and assaulted them.

Following the attack, two of the victims were allegedly forced into the black van, while the third man was taken away in a separate vehicle.

Police said the two Chinese nationals who were placed inside the van were later abandoned with their hands and legs still bound after the suspects fled the area.

The victims were reportedly left in a parking area near a building within Port City. After managing to free themselves, they contacted friends, who arrived at the scene and later accompanied them to the Colombo Harbour Police to lodge a complaint.

Investigators said the complaint was made at approximately 5.00 a.m.

The third Chinese national allegedly abducted by the armed group was identified as Hao Song.

While police were investigating the alleged kidnapping, a body suspected to be that of a Chinese national was discovered on Thursday afternoon in a forested area in Karadana, Eheliyagoda.

Police said the victim had suffered severe injuries and was found with his hands and legs bound and his eyes covered. Investigators also revealed that stones had been placed over the body in an apparent attempt to conceal it.

According to police, the two Chinese nationals who survived the attack subsequently identified the body as that of Hao Song, confirming that the man allegedly taken away during the Port City incident was the same individual later found dead in Eheliyagoda.

Investigators have also recovered a vehicle believed to have been used in Hao Song's alleged abduction from a location near where the body was discovered.

Further evidence was recovered from the black van in which the two surviving victims were allegedly abandoned. Police said a Glock 44 semi-automatic pistol with a loaded magazine and a VVK walkie-talkie device were found inside the vehicle.

Authorities said the van is registered to a resident of Ambalantota, while the cab used by the three Chinese nationals belongs to a company based in Colombo 05.

The two Chinese nationals who were assaulted during the incident are currently receiving treatment at a private hospital.

Police are now pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to identify and arrest all those involved, while investigators seek to determine the motive behind the attack.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka has stated that it is closely monitoring the ongoing case involving Chinese citizens and has called on Sri Lankan authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation to establish the facts at the earliest opportunity.

In a statement, the Embassy urged the Sri Lankan Police to carry out a thorough inquiry and take all necessary measures to safeguard the personal safety, lawful rights and legitimate interests of Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka.

It also issued a reminder to Chinese citizens in Sri Lanka to remain vigilant and strengthen their personal safety awareness amid the ongoing investigation.

The Embassy advised Chinese nationals to promptly report any emergency or security-related incident to the Sri Lankan Police and to contact the Chinese Embassy for assistance whenever necessary.