Borella Traffic OIC Ananda Sagara Sarathchandra who has been battling for his life since the brutal hit and run accident two weeks ago, succumbed to his injuries at the Colombo National Hospital last night.
IP Sarathchandra was critically injured, his body crushed, when a defender crashed into him at the Thummulla Junction in Bambalapitiya on February 24.
The death comes amid swirling allegations of high level interference in the investigation into the accident, given the politically charged composition of passengers travelling in the defender and the Toyota V8 involved in the accident.
According to the National Coordinator,Accident Service, NHC, Pushpa Ramyani de Soysa who communicated the condition of the injured previously said that the Inspector had been in a very critical condition when he was admitted two weeks ago. The father of three had been on life support due to severe head injuries, multiple fractures to his limbs and massive damage to his pelvic area.
Navindu Omesh Ratnayake, 27 of Malabe who was at the wheel at the time has been charged with attempted murder. He is the son of a senior police officer attached to the President’s Security Division.
The four others in the defender have been identified as parliamentarian Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s son Ranishka Aluthgamage 26, Vindya Weerasinghe 27, Sesitha Randip Gunadasa 28 and Ransigoda Arachchige Visitha Sri Wijesekera, 27 under whose name the suspect vehicle is registered.
The Toyota V8 which followed the defender was also detained in connection with the hit and run case and the three passengers, Municipal Council Member Duminda Attygalle.
The predawn accident was captured on CCTV, showing the IP crossing an intersection at Duplication road on his bike when a speeding defender hitsthe cop and runs over him. The footage showed the defender approaching at a high speed, failing to apply breaks at the intersection and crashing into the cop’s motorbike. Both the defender and a V8 that followed did not stop but fled the scene.
The vehicles involved in the hit and run were later discovered at Battaramulla while eight suspects were arrested in connection with the accident. The suspects were produced before courts on February 26. Seven of the suspects were released on bail, while the driver of the defender was remanded until March 11.