• 3 persons arrested for aiding and abetting; travel ban on father-son duo implicated in deceased’s brother’s murder; Kanjipani Imran’s associates suspected; 6 Police teams deployed  

The Convenor of the ‘Nawa Sinhale National Movement’ and political activist, Dan Priyasad, has succumbed to his injuries after being hospitalised following a shooting incident in Wellampitiya on Tuesday night (22).

According to reports, he was initially admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital with gunshot wounds, but passed away shortly after due to the severity of his injuries.

The shooting incident took place at the ‘Laksanda Sevana’ Housing Complex in Wellampitiya at around 9.10 p.m. while the victim was inside a residence, attending a party.

Priyasad was reportedly shot four times — twice in the chest and twice in the shoulder. Additionally, another individual who sustained minor injuries during the incident is also currently receiving treatment at the hospital. It is reported that two individuals, who had arrived on a motorcycle, fired multiple gunshots using a pistol before fleeing the scene.

Meanwhile, three suspects have been arrested for allegedly providing information to Priyasad’s killers.

Elsewhere, it is reported that six Police teams have been deployed to investigate the shooting incident. Police suspect that the murder was carried out by associates of the suspected organised criminal and large-scale drug trafficker known as ‘Kanjipani Imran’.

Wellampitiya Police yesterday (23) reported facts to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court regarding the murder of Priyasad. The Police stated that investigations have revealed information suggesting a connection between a father–son duo in relation to the murder of Priyasad. Accordingly, the Police requested the Court to issue an order preventing the duo — Bandula Piyal and Madhava Sudarshana – from travelling overseas and to obtain their telephone records. Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela issued an order to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, as well as to the other relevant officials, preventing the two individuals in question from leaving the country. Police further stated that a brother of the deceased, Thilina Prasad, had been hacked to death several years ago, and that a case is pending before court against the same father and son duo..

Police informed the Court that statements have been recorded from around 10 individuals regarding the current incident, and that further investigations are underway.

The Magistrate is also scheduled to visit the crime scene and conduct an on-site investigation into the matter.