The suspected gunman and several others arrested in relation to the murder of the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, Lasantha Wickramasekara have been handed over to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division, police stated.
The Police headquarters said the group including the suspected gunman have been handed over to the FCID for further investigations.
The suspected gunman in the murder was arrested earlier today (26) in Nawinna, Maharagama, police said.
The arrest was made during a joint operation carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), with the assistance of the State Intelligence Service.
In addition to the suspected gunman, six others linked to the murder were apprehended earlier today.
Two suspects allegedly involved in the killing of the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, Lasantha Wickramasekara were arrested in Galle.
The duo was arrested by the Divisional Crime Detective Bureau of Matara, police stated.
Another individual who allegedly aided and abetted in the killing of the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, Lasantha Wickramasekara, has been arrested in Galle, police stated.
The individual has been arrested by the Weligama Police.
The individual taken into custody is a three-wheeler driver and a resident of Hiyare, Galle.
It is reported that on the day before the shooting, he had accompanied the gunmen to Galle and Matara.
It is also stated that on the day of the shooting, he had brought the gunmen to the location and after the attack, he had also assisted them in fleeing the scene.
Furthermore, it has been revealed that he had received Rs. 20,000 for his assistance to the gunmen.
Earlier today, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested three individuals in connection with the murder of the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha.
The investigation is being carried out by several police teams under the direct supervision of the Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), and the Senior DIGs in charge of the Southern Province.
Following a planned operation by the FCID, police received information that several suspects connected to the murder were hiding in a housing scheme in Kekirawa, Anuradhapura.
Accordingly, officers of the FCID, with the assistance of the Police Special Task Force (STF) and the Sri Lanka Army, conducted a raid early this morning (26).
During the operation, police arrested a male and a female suspect believed to have been involved in the murder.
According to police, several other individuals present at the location engaged in a scuffle with officers while attempting to arrest the duo, resulting in one police officer sustaining injuries and being admitted to hospital for treatment.
Police also recovered one of the motorcycles used in the murder, Rs. 1.2 million in cash, stock of heroin and crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’) and equipment used to take drugs.
Additionally, another suspect — a resident of the area who is believed to have aided the group — was also taken into custody.
Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara was shot dead on Wednesday (22), inside his office at the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha premises by an unidentified gunman.
According to police, the assailant, dressed in a white shirt and wearing a black face mask, entered the chairman’s office under the pretext of signing a letter.
CCTV footage showed the suspect firing four shots at Chairman Wickramasekara, who was seated at his official desk, before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle with an accomplice.
The chairman sustained injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen and was admitted to the Matara General Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Following the incident, several police teams were deployed under the direct supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) in charge of the Southern province Kithsiri Jayalath to investigate and apprehend those responsible.
