Two held over murder of Sheffield pizza man on his final delivery

Police in South Yorkshire confirmed they were holding a 25-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy after being arrested separately on suspicion of murder.

They will be questioned today by detectives investigating the attack on Sunday night.

The youth’s arrest came after the parents of Thavisha Lakindu Peiris described him as “the most caring and loving son a parent could have” as they appealed for information about his murder.

Speaking from their home in Sri Lanka, the family of the 25-year-old said they had been left heartbroken by his death.

Mr Peiris, a Sheffield Hallam University software engineering graduate, was completing his final shift for Domino’s Pizza in the city’s Halifax Road branch and has been making his last ever delivery before starting a new job as an IT consultant when he was killed.

More than 50 detectives and other specialist staff are involved in South Yorkshire Police’s investigation.

Mr Peiris’s father, Sarath Mahinda Peiris, and mother Sudarma Narangoda said: “We were devastated and shocked to hear of our son’s tragic end and we are still unable to comprehend that he is actually gone.

“Thavisha was one of the most caring and loving sons a parent could have. He was full of life and always had a smile on his face. Anyone who met him immediately liked him.

“He was a deeply religious boy who would not even harm an ant. We sent our son to the UK to study so he can have a better life.

“Now we are left with only a broken heart. We urge anyone who knows anything about our son’s tragic death to come forward to help bring whoever is responsible to justice. Please help the police stop another father or mother feel the tragic loss that we are feeling.”

Mr Peiris, who had moved to Sheffield from Sri Lanka in 2011 to further his education, was found dead in his car.

His manager at the nearby branch of Domino’s Pizza, Ravi Marripudi, said Mr Peiris had not been feeling well that evening but had agreed to make one last delivery before going home.

Mr Marripudi said he set off to take the pizza to Southey Crescent – about a mile from his base – at about 9.50pm. But 15 minutes later he got a call from the customer saying the order had not been delivered and there were voices outside.

Mr Peiris was found slumped in his silver Toyota Yaris car in Southey Crescent.

His older brother, Pramod Chetheka Peiris, said: “I am heartbroken. My brother Thavisha was the centre of our world.

“He gave us so many reasons to smile.

“He was kind and considerate and we were extremely proud of his achievements.

“We were so happy that he was doing so well in England. We never thought his life was in any danger. I can’t believe he was taken away from us in this cruel and inhuman manner.”

As part of the investigation, a forensic examination is being carried out of Mr Peiris’s car and house-to-house enquiries are taking place in the area of Southey Crescent.

Anyone with any information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 1253 of October 27, 2013.