CCD requests court to refer Sewwandi to Government Analyst for facial recognition

A request to refer Ishara Sewwandi, the main suspect alleged to be the mastermind behind the Ganemulla Sanjeewa murder case, to the Government Analyst for facial recognition was made by the Colombo Crimes Division to the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

This was when the case was called yesterday (10) before Colombo Additional Magistrate Liyan Warushavithana.

The suspect was ordered to be remanded in custody until August 21 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Liyan Warushavithana yesterday (10).

The order was issued after considering the facts presented by the police when producing the suspect in court, who was detained and questioned by the Colombo Crimes Division for nine months.

Submitting a special summary report of evidence to the court based on the evidence and circumstantial evidence discovered during the interrogation of the suspect, who was arrested while fleeing to Nepal and detained since last October (2025), the police also presented a special further report to the court regarding how the suspect planned the murder case and dealt with the suspects involved.

A report regarding the manner in which money was transferred since the murder case was planned, and how weapons were provided by the other suspects, was also presented to the court.

Stating further facts, Colombo Crimes Division officers presented all facts to the court, including how the suspect arrived at the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court, how she fled from Matugama Welipenna to Middeniya after the murder occurred, and how she travelled from Middeniya to Jaffna.

As further investigations need to be conducted regarding the suspect, the police requested permission to refer her to the Government Analyst for facial recognition to compare with CCTV footage after being imprisoned.

Accordingly, they expect to refer her to the Government Analyst on August 17.