The body of a man suspected to have been murdered was found in a canal in the Galagahena area in Pitipana, Homagama, early this morning, the Homagama Headquarters Police said.

The police stated the body lay in a canal about 45 metres away from an auction land located near the canal in the Galagahena area.

Officers recovered a pair of slippers suspected to belong to the deceased and a twenty-rupee note from the auction land.

The deceased was identified as a father of two residing on Samagi Mawatha in Kadanawatta, Pitipana, Homagama.

The victim, an employee at a garment factory, left his residence on a motorcycle at around 7:00 p.m. last night to transport an individual for hire.

A complaint regarding his disappearance was subsequently lodged with the Meegoda Police this morning.

As the body remained in the canal, animal activity disfigured the facial features, making identification difficult.

The Homagama Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.