Mount Lavinia additional Magistrate Hemali Halpandeniya has assigned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the mysterious death of Agosthinuge Samarajeewa, a 60-year-old resident of Dehiwala.

Samarajeewa was found in critical condition with bruises at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital on 2 January after his wife reported him missing. He later succumbed to his injuries on 3 January.

Accordingly, evidence presented in court revealed that Dehiwala Police officers had washed and changed the injured man's clothes instead of taking immediate steps to hospitalise him. 

The lack of a thorough investigation by the local police prompted the Magistrate to transfer the case to the CID.

The case is scheduled for further hearings on 18 March.