Two men were killed in separate attacks in southern Sri Lanka on Friday night, police said, in incidents reported alongside a third killing in Anuradhapura.
Tangalle
A 35-year-old resident of Mahagoda died after being clubbed during an argument in the Mahagoda area of the Tangalle police division on Friday night, Ada Derana reported. He was admitted to Tangalle Hospital with serious injuries and later died there.
Police said preliminary investigations found the assault followed an escalating argument between the deceased and his brother. Hiru News gave the same account, specifying that the dispute was with one of his brothers. A 28-year-old suspect has been arrested, and Tangalle police are continuing investigations following a complaint lodged at the station.
NewsFirst, which reported the case as one of three murders across the island, described the trigger only as a verbal dispute and did not name the relationship between the two men.
Galle
A 24-year-old resident of Galle was killed with a sharp weapon during a clash between two groups in the Galwala area of the Galle police division, also on Friday night. He was admitted to Galle Hospital and died there.
Police said the clash arose from a long-standing grudge between the two groups. Two other people injured in the confrontation were admitted to Galle Hospital. Two suspects aged 19 and 29 have been arrested; Hiru News reported that both are residents of the Walawwatta area.
The third case
The Anuradhapura killing carried in the same NewsFirst report is one already reported on Friday, in which a woman was attacked with a sharp weapon in the Korakahawewa area and her husband was hospitalised after allegedly injuring himself. NewsFirst put her age at 60 and located the attack in a tank reservation area, where Ada Derana reported on Friday that she was 59 and placed the incident inside a forest reserve. Neither outlet accounts for the difference.
Five suspects are in custody across the three cases. No charges have been filed in any of them.
