The Criminal Investigation Department has obtained new leads in the 2016 disappearance and suspected murder of a retired military officer in Kuruwita, following the arrest of a suspect who allegedly confessed to the crime.

Eight years after a retired Sri Lankan Army officer disappeared under suspicious circumstances in Kuruwita, the Criminal Investigation Department's Homicides and Organized Crime Investigation Division has uncovered significant developments in the case. A suspect arrested on June 8 in possession of a foreign-manufactured firearm and ammunition allegedly confessed during questioning to involvement in the incident.

According to the CID's account, the suspect told investigators that he assaulted and killed a retired military officer identified as Nishshanka. The suspect indicated that romantic involvement with the victim's wife provided the motive for the killing. He further claimed that the victim's body was initially buried locally before being disposed of in a nearby river.

Based on the suspect's statements, investigators visited the alleged burial site on June 25, though the victim's remains have not yet been recovered from the location. The investigation has also expanded to involve an apparent secondary victim. The suspect allegedly disclosed that he transported a 25-year-old woman with knowledge of the killing to India, where she subsequently died and disappeared. The suspect is said to have maintained a close personal relationship with this woman as well.

The CID indicated that police investigations remain ongoing as authorities work to verify the suspect's account and locate physical evidence to substantiate the allegations. The case represents a significant development in a disappearance that had remained unresolved for nearly a decade.