Excavator driver remanded for 45 days over death of WAMCO worker Ameen Mia

The Criminal Court has extended the remand of the Sri Lankan man arrested in connection with the death of a 24‑year‑old Bangladeshi worker whose body was discovered in Thilafushi in late January.

Ameen Mia, a WAMCO employee, went missing from Thilafushi on January 26. His body was found two days later, on January 28.

Police arrested Madranga Dissanayake Menika Durayala, 32, of Sri Lanka, on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. When he was presented before the Criminal Court on Wednesday, his remand was extended by an additional 45 days.

According to police, Ameen Mia died on the afternoon of January 26. Investigators believe he fell after being struck by an excavator while clearing waste at a dump site. The excavator continued moving rubbish to another location, and Ameen’s body was carried along with the waste and buried under it.

Police said CCTV footage from the scene shows the excavator hitting Ameen, after which work continued without interruption.

The arrest warrant also cited a witness statement indicating that Durayala may have attempted to flee. The investigating officer told the court that the suspect had been working illegally at the site.