Former DIG Vas Gunawardena, along with five others, has had their death sentences affirmed for the murder of millionaire businessman Siyam. The tense relationship between Vas Gunawardena and Anura Senanayake, who was not very pleased with Gunawardena’s appointment as the head of the Colombo Crimes Division, escalated into a cold war. Gunawardena’s close ties with powerful figures in the Government, bypassing Senanayake, contributed to this tension.
An incident involving the abduction and assault of Nipun Ramanayake, a student at the Malabe Institute of Technology, further highlighted the friction, as it was impossible to cover up. Gunawardena, who was confident that the powerful figures he served would eventually secure his release, found himself in prison alongside his son and fellow police officers. On November 27, 2015, the High Court delivered the final verdict when a three-judge bench, including Lalith Jayasuriya, Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena, and Amendra Senaviratne, affirmed their death sentences in the Siyam murder case.
Many individuals who attempted to impose tyranny based on political arrogance and power have now found that there is virtually no escape from the courts. Recent judicial rulings are the best examples of this. Among these, a particularly notable judgment is the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the death sentence for former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vaas Gunawardena and the four-year prison sentence handed down by the Colombo High Court to Vaas Gunawardena and three others for abducting, stripping, and assaulting Nipuna Ramanayake, a student of the Malabe Information Technology Institute.
Apart from these, the Supreme Court recently issued several other significant rulings, all of which have contributed to strengthening public trust in the judiciary. Vaas Gunawardena is one of the most controversial figures in the Sri Lankan police force. He joined the police service as a Sub-Inspector and was always an influential and contentious person.
During his time as the Assistant Superintendent of Police in the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau, numerous allegations were raised against him, leading to his suspension from duty. Police chief It was during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure as Secretary of Defence that Vaas Gunawardena, marginalised within the police, found a place in the force again. He was appointed as the police chief of the Trincomalee division.
It was during this period that a group, allegedly associated with Pillayan’s faction, which had split from the LTTE, abducted, raped, and murdered a young girl of preschool age. The group had planned to dispose of the child’s body in the sea, but when this failed, they dumped the body in a canal in the Trincomalee area. A post-mortem examination revealed that the child had been subjected to extreme torture and gang rape.
The police team responsible for this heinous crime was identified as operating under the command of Vaas Gunawardena, who was serving as the Police Chief in Trincomalee at the time. Due to Pillayan’s association with the government, which allegedly protected criminals and allowed them to roam freely, public outrage was mounting. In an attempt to quell this public anger, the police confronted and killed two of the criminals responsible for the abduction, rape, and murder of the young girl, claiming they were armed and had resisted arrest.
This event marked Vaas Gunawardena as a controversial figure and brought him closer to the powerful figures within the government at the time. Consequently, Vaas Gunawardena was transferred from Trincomalee to Kurunegala. He did not forget to bring along his loyal officers, who had been involved in the Trincomalee investigation.
What this team did in Kurunegala remains a mystery to this day. It is also reported that during this period, Vaas Gunawardena attempted suicide. His vehicle, a radio car, was involved in a serious accident on the Kurunegala-Dambulla road, leaving him with severe injuries.
It was suggested that he had intentionally crashed the vehicle in a suicide attempt. Mysterious Vaas Gunawardena also served as the Police Chief in Ratnapura for some time. He was sent to Ratnapura with the specific task of putting an end to the mysterious wave of women’s murders in Kahawatta, Kotakethana.
During this period, several suspects believed to be involved in these murders disappeared without a trace. Many believed that the wave of killings in Kotakethana had ended with the arrival of Vaas Gunawardena in Ratnapura, but this turned out not to be the case. The serial killer struck again, and women continued to fall victim until the true perpetrator was caught in 2016.
Vaas Gunawardena also briefly served as the Police Chief in Galle. Soon after he assumed this role, Galle was shaken by the discovery of the bodies of five young men who had been tied up, blindfolded, and shot in the head. Such incidents were not uncommon wherever Vaas Gunawardena was stationed.
During this period, Anura Senanayake was serving as the Chief of the Colombo Crime Division. A Senior Superintendent of Police, he was known within the police force as the officer who sang songs. Anura Senanayake rose to prominence after taking charge of the Colombo Crime Division and becoming closely associated with powerful figures.
He was known for engaging in many activities that a police officer should and should not be involved in. He was also very close to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was serving as the Secretary of Defence at the time. When Anura Senanayake was promoted Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and appointed as the DIG of Colombo, Vaas Gunawardena filled the vacancy left in the Colombo Crime Division.
Upon taking over, Vaas Gunawardena brought along several trusted officers, who were his loyal followers and could be relied upon for any task. Connections When Vaas Gunawardena was appointed as the head of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), it was not to Anura Senanayake’s liking. This was particularly because Gunawardena tried to maintain closer ties with powerful figures within the Government.
These connections overshadowed Senanayake’s influence, leading to a subtle yet palpable cold war between the two high-ranking police officers. This tension was exemplified by the abduction and brutal assault of Nipuna Ramanayake, a student from the Malabe Institute of Technology. The incident, which occurred under the jurisdiction of the CCD, could not be easily swept under the rug, largely due to the underlying rivalry between Gunawardena and Senanayake.
Nipuna Ramanayake was abducted on August 4, 2009, following a personal dispute between him and Ravindu Gunawardena, Vaas Gunawardena’s son. Utilising his father’s position and police power, Ravindu orchestrated Nipuna’s abduction, during which he was subjected to severe abuse, including being stripped and beaten. Despite efforts to cover up the incident, Anura Senanayake seized the opportunity to capitalise on the situation and used it to have Vaas Gunawardena removed from the Colombo Crimes Division.
Gunawardena was subsequently reassigned to a less significant role within the police force. The legal consequences of this illegal act culminated recently after a prolonged trial. On August 8, the Colombo High Court, under Judge Amal Ranaraja, sentenced Vaas Gunawardena, his son Ravindu, and three other police officers to four years in prison with hard labour for the abduction and assault of Nipuna Ramanayake.
However, Vaas Gunawardena’s wife, Shyamalee Priyadarshani Perera, and two other police officers were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The three officers sentenced alongside Gunawardena and his son—Indika Pushpakumara, Damith Priyankara, and Shanta Lalith Vithana—played significant roles in the crime. Vithana, a member of the Colombo Crimes Division, was involved in falsifying police records related to Nipuna’s abduction.
His deteriorating health due to severe diabetes, which led to the amputation of one of his legs, resulted in the court ordering that he continue receiving medical treatment at the prison hospital. In delivering the verdict, Judge Ranaraja emphasised that the trust placed in Vaas Gunawardena and his fellow officers had been severely violated by their illegal actions. The court also noted that the convicted officers had shown no remorse for their deeds.
Murder This verdict came after the Supreme Court had already confirmed the death penalty for Vaas Gunawardena, his son, and four other police officers for their involvement in the abduction and murder of businessman Mohamed Siyam on May 22, 2013. This crime occurred shortly after Gunawardena was reassigned as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Western Province (North) following the Nipuna Ramanayake incident. The investigation into Siyam’s disappearance began when his family, unable to locate him, sought assistance from then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The case was handed over to Anura Senanayake, who assigned it to the Colombo Crimes Division. Within 24 hours, the CCD discovered Siyam’s abandoned vehicle in Nugegoda, sparking further investigation. Eventually, Vaas Gunawardena’s involvement in Siyam’s abduction and murder was uncovered, leading to his arrest in June 2013.
This case marked a significant moment in Sri Lankan history, as it was one of the rare instances where a high-ranking police officer was apprehended and convicted for such a grave crime. Before the court delivered its verdict on the abduction and brutal assault of Nipuna Ramanayake, the Supreme Court had already issued another significant ruling against Vaas Gunawardena, his son Ravindu Gunawardena, and four other police officers. This ruling upheld the death penalty, which the High Court had previously imposed for the abduction and murder of businessman Mohamed Siyam.
The Supreme Court’s decision was made by a five-judge bench, including Vijith Malalgoda, Preethi Padman Surasena, Gamini Amarasekara, Achala Wengappuli, and Arjuna Obeyesekere, following an appeal against the High Court’s death sentence. Vaas Gunawardena became a suspect in the murder of Mohamed Siyam shortly after being reassigned as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Western Province (North) following the Nipuna Ramanayake incident. His return to the Western Province was met with discontent from Senior DIG Anura Senanayake, who was aware of Gunawardena’s notorious reputation.
Upon assuming his new role as the DIG of the Western Province (North), Vaas Gunawardena quickly surrounded himself with his loyal subordinates. Despite the lessons he should have learned from the Nipuna Ramanayake incident, Gunawardena continued his criminal activities, which ultimately led to his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for the abduction and murder of Mohamed Siyam. This crime took place on May 22, 2013.
Vaas Gunawardena and his associates were accused of abducting and murdering Mohamed Ahameddeen Mohamed Siyam, a businessman living on Sagara Road in Bambalapitiya, who was involved in the shoe trade. It was alleged that this murder was carried out under a contract worth 3 million rupees, arranged by one of Siyam’s close friends, who had a business dispute with him. On May 22, 2013, Siyam, who had been at his shoe factory in Dehiwala, left to return home.
After arriving at his residence in Bambalapitiya, he stepped out with a friend. At this moment, a group led by Vaas Gunawardena, executing the contract, abducted Siyam. Despite the family’s frantic search and inquiries with his friend, who claimed that Siyam had left for home after dinner, no trace of Siyam was found.
Desperate and unable to locate Siyam, his family lodged a complaint with the Bambalapitiya police and even sought help from then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa. A relative of Siyam, who was well-acquainted with President Rajapaksa, approached him at the President’s House, Araliyagaha Mandiraya, as Rajapaksa was preparing to visit Gangaramaya Temple. President Rajapaksa, sympathetic to the family’s plight, listened to the relative’s account during their car ride to the temple.
Upon arriving at the temple, Senior DIG Anura Senanayake, who was present, was informed of the situation by the President himself. This direct intervention marked the beginning of an intense investigation. The Colombo Crimes Division quickly discovered Siyam’s abandoned vehicle in Nugegoda, leading to further inquiries.
In June 2013, just a few months after assuming his position as DIG of the Western Province (North), Vaas Gunawardena was arrested by the CID, marking the first time such a high-ranking police officer was apprehended for a crime of this magnitude. The involvement of a senior police officer in such a heinous crime sent shockwaves through Sri Lanka, highlighting the deep-seated corruption and abuse of power within the police force at that time. During the investigation into the disappearance of Mohamed Siyam, then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa personally handed over the case to Senior DIG Anura Senanayake, instructing him to “look into this matter and tell me what has happened.
” Senanayake immediately tasked the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) with the investigation. Within 24 hours, the CCD officers discovered Siyam’s abandoned van on Kandewatta Road in Nugegoda. They meticulously checked for fingerprints, hoping to uncover crucial evidence.
In addition to inspecting the van, CCD officers reviewed footage from security cameras in nearby buildings, seeking clues to advance the investigation. One such camera, positioned near where the van was found, revealed significant information. It showed Siyam arriving at the location in his vehicle with a friend and later being abducted by another group.
This footage indicated that Siyam’s friend was involved in his disappearance, contrary to the family’s belief that he was trustworthy and uninvolved. Despite the family’s strong trust in Siyam’s friend, who they believed was loyal and incapable of such betrayal, the CCD pursued the investigation based on the new evidence. The family even expressed displeasure when the friend was taken into custody, still convinced of his innocence.
However, under intense questioning, the friend eventually confessed to his involvement. He revealed that Siyam had been abducted, murdered, and his body discarded in a remote area in Dompe. By that time, the body had already been discovered by local police, but it was unidentified and had been stored in the Gampaha hospital mortuary as an unclaimed body.
Vaas Gunawardena, who was in charge of the Western Province North as the DIG, had allowed the body to remain unidentified, fully aware that it was Siyam’s. Following these revelations, the investigation was transferred from the CCD to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further inquiry. At the time, the CID was led by Director Gamini Mathurata, who assigned the case to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shani Abeysekara, a seasoned investigator.
The CID unearthed concrete evidence that a group of rogue police officers, acting under a contract worth 3 million rupees, had carried out the abduction and murder. This contract had been arranged by Siyam’s close friend, who harboured a desire to take over Siyam’s shoe business. The friend, who was deeply in debt to Siyam, saw the murder as a way to rid himself of his financial burdens and seize control of the business.
As the investigation progressed, several suspects were arrested, including Vaas Gunawardena’s son. The evidence pointed to the friend’s jealousy and financial desperation as the motive behind the crime. The case ultimately exposed a web of corruption, betrayal, and the abuse of power within the police force, shaking public trust and highlighting the need for justice and accountability.
Mohamed Siyam, a businessman with a passion for luxury wristwatches, was lured to Nugegoda under the pretext of obtaining a valuable watch. It was here that he was handed over to a group of police officers, including Vaas Gunawardena’s son, Ravindu. The investigation revealed these details, leading to Ravindu’s arrest alongside others involved in the crime.
Among them was an officer named Bamunusinghe, who, despite being imprisoned for his role in the murder, continued his academic pursuits, even preparing for a doctorate. He was charged with aiding and abetting the murder. When CID officers summoned Vaas Gunawardena to the department and arrested him, he threatened Shani Abeysekara, the lead investigator.
As a result, Gunawardena was later sentenced to a prison term with hard labour and fined Rs 25,000 for this threat. At the time of his arrest, Vaas Gunawardena likely believed that his political connections would ensure his release. However, once in CID custody, those connections abandoned him.
Although he hinted at possessing compromising secrets that could bring down powerful figures, he ultimately refrained from revealing them, perhaps fearing further consequences or still hoping for a political rescue. Despite his strong belief that his influential patrons would eventually secure his freedom, Vaas Gunawardena found himself sentenced to prison alongside his son and fellow police officers. On November 27, 2015, the High Court, presided over by Judges Lalith Jayasuriya, Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena, and Amendra Seneviratne, delivered its verdict on the Siyam murder case.
After considering testimony from over 100 witnesses and reviewing more than 800 pages of evidence, the court found Vaas Gunawardena and his associates guilty, sentencing them to death. Gunawardena immediately appealed to the Supreme Court, asserting his innocence. This appeal, which sought to overturn the death sentence on the grounds of innocence, was heard by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court.
The case faced delays, including the passing of Justice Prasanna Jayawardena and the retirement of Justice Sisira de Abrew, necessitating a re-examination of the appeal. After seven years of deliberation, the Supreme Court finally delivered its verdict on August 8, 2023. The court upheld the High Court’s decision, reaffirming the death sentences for Vaas Gunawardena, his son Ravindu, and the others involved in the crime.
This final ruling dashed any remaining hopes of escape for Gunawardena and his accomplices..
