Key Breakthrough in Wasim Thajudeen Murder Probe; Conflicting Claims Emerge with Crucial Evidence

Official sources confirm that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has made a decisive breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, which took place 13 years ago.

According to the findings, Thajudeen, who was murdered in Colombo, had in fact been killed by the same individual who was shot dead about eight months ago. This revelation was made by the police through ongoing inquiries.

A key eyewitness has now formally identified a previously unknown individual seen in CCTV footage on the night of the incident. Investigators consider this as one of the most concrete pieces of evidence uncovered so far.

These new developments emerged following the arrest and questioning of an organized criminal known as "Bako Saman" in Indonesia. Based on his information, investigators obtained a statement from the wife of another underworld figure, Aruna Shantha (alias "Kajja"), who is now deceased.

In her official statement to the CID, she confirmed that the person seen in the vehicle following Thajudeen’s car in 2012 was her late husband, Aruna Shantha (“Kajja”). She stated that she recognized him based on his physical features and mannerisms.

Meanwhile, Kajja’s son has claimed, “My father’s murder was connected to my own mother and her illicit partner.”

Meanwhile, doubts have arisen regarding the statement given by the wife of Aruna Shantha, also known as “Kajja.”

Kajja’s son, Induwara Vidanagamage, has alleged that his father’s murder — as well as the killings of his brother and sister — are connected to his mother, Amisha Bethmee, and her illicit partner, Sampath Ramanayake.

He made this claim through a post published on his official Facebook page, which stated the following:

Correction of the false report linking my father, Anura Priyantha alias “Middeniya Kajja,” to the murder of Wasim Thajudeen

The Police recently announced that my father, who was killed on 19 February this year, was also connected to the murder of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, which occurred on 17 May 2012. According to their statement, my late father was identified by his former wife as the individual seen in CCTV footage getting into the vehicle that followed Thajudeen’s car.

However, I wish to point out the following concerns:

Why have the Police not shown the CCTV footage to my father’s brothers and sisters to confirm the identity, instead of relying only on the statement of the estranged wife who left him?

Why has testimony been taken solely from the woman who abandoned her husband and children for another man?

In 2012, my father was employed on Hettiyawatta Road, Nugegoda (Route 176), a fact known to his associates. Why was this not considered?

The identification was based merely on body features and gestures, such as placing his hand on his waist, which is hardly conclusive evidence.

There are also suspicions that my father’s estranged wife and her illicit partner, Sampath Ramanayake, were involved not only in his murder but also in the killings of my siblings.

Evidence further shows that Sampath Ramanayake, her partner, is a close associate of “Bako Saman,” who was recently arrested in Indonesia.

Moreover, she had been in Dubai with “Bako Saman,” the prime suspect in my father’s killing, after abandoning her husband and children.

For these reasons, there is clear evidence that my mother, Amisha Bethmee, and her illicit partner, Sampath Ramanayake, are directly connected to the murders of my father and my siblings.

Death of Wasim Thajudeen Initially Ruled as an Accident

The death of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen on May 17, 2012, was initially declared by authorities to have been the result of a road accident.

However, in 2015, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reopened the case, classifying it as a possible murder.

A second post-mortem examination revealed multiple fractures to Thajudeen’s chest, abdomen, and neck — injuries determined to be consistent with a severe assault rather than a vehicle accident.

Under the administration of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, there has been a renewed commitment to resolving long-standing high-profile crimes, giving new momentum to the investigation.

Officials note that the latest findings provide a strong foundation for further inquiries. The investigation remains ongoing, and public attention is now focused on the next steps.

The murder allegations have directly implicated Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

Thajudeen’s killing, which was also a key issue during the 2015 presidential election campaign, had been repeatedly suppressed due to political and hidden influences. However, a close associate of the Thajudeen family stated that under the current administration, “justice will finally be served.”