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Abduction mastermind behind bars
An attempt to obtain a ransom of Rs five million after abducting two of his friends has landed the mastermind so called 'friend' behind bars. The abduction of two of his friends, Ashok Ranasinghe (18) and Sanjaya Kolonna (17) by one of their friends together with accomplices was carried out on June 6.

After some nerve-wracking moments and a few days later, police were able to rescue the victims and bring the culprits to court. Describing the incident, Ashok who was the first to be abducted said on June 6 he went to Negombo with his 'friend' at his request and was joined by another person. "On the way at Jaela the 'friend' said that he wanted to see another friend of his and so he turned the vehicle at Tudella junction and went up to Bopitiya. I knew that we came to Bopitiya only when police told me so after the drama".

"Finally he stopped the car near a house and went inside it with his other friend leaving me alone in the car. Later he called me inside to have a soft drink. As I went inside an unidentified person brandished a pistol at my neck and tied my hands and legs. I was taken to a separate room in the house".

"There were five people in the house and I didn't know what happened to my 'friend' and his friend. After some hours - around 3.00 a.m. I heard them calling my home and lying that I (Ashok) had knocked down a person and therefore the family of the victim is detaining me and I will only be released after a payment of Rs. five million".
"Little later I learnt that another friend of mine Sanjaya Kolonna has been brought to the same house. They brought me, and after a little while my abducted friend was also brought. Lo and behold my abductor - friend had also had his hands and legs tied.

"Though initially the abductors demanded Rs. five million rupees from my parents Sanjaya and I were able to knock down the ransom to Rs. one million.
”According to Sanjaya their abductor - friend had called him at 8.30 on the night of June 6 and asked him to come to the road immediately saying that Ashok has knocked down a person in Jaela and that they had go to save his skin. So I went with him in the car to where Ashok was.

There they assaulted me and tied my hands and legs". On the following day Ashok was released to bring the ransom of Rs. one million in order to release Sanjaya. He was warned not to alert the police. When he came home the police were already there and his assistance was sought to trace the location where Sanjaya was detained. He failed to locate the place on the first occasion but was able to locate the ‘detention centre’ at Bopitiya on the second attempt.

As police stormed the house they found the house empty - his abductors having slithered away with their prey in possible anticipation of a police raid. Sanjaya recalls that he was first taken to Negambo, then to Wennappuwa and eventually to far off Matara. Right through the travils the abductors has been in contact with Ashok and Sanjaya's family in order to get the ransom money.

Finally Sanjaya was taken to a house in Colombo by his abductors but the people in the house seemed to know Sanjaya. So the abductors found they had to take Sanjaya elsewhere and as a result Sanjaya was left alone at the Millennium Park in Colombo. He was told to wait at the park until his parents and Police came to pick him up. He waited nearly half an hour until they arrived.

The parents had been informed by the 'friend' about the location to pick him up
Police then went on to arrest the mastermind 'friend' and the gang. All was well that ended well. The suspects have been remanded until July 3 .

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