• Include gunman, motorcycle rider, gunman’s wife, an individual who helped gunman evade, 2 Borella aiders, the motorcycle provider and repairer, a 3-wheeler driver  

Nine suspects, including the gunman and the motorcycle rider, have been arrested in connection with the shooting and killing of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) Chairperson Lasantha Wickramasekara at his office.

Among them, six suspects – including the gunman, the motorcycle rider, the gunman’s wife, an individual who helped him evade arrest after the shooting, and two others who assisted him in Borella – are currently in the custody of the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division.

Police have been allowed to detain for 72 hours the six suspects, including the suspected gunman and the motorcycle rider arrested over the killing of Wickramasekara, for further questioning.

Earlier on Monday (27), the suspected shooter arrested in connection with the murder was produced before the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer. Following his arrest in Nawinna on 26 October evening, the suspect was detained in the custody of the said Division.

Three suspects arrested in connection with the killing of Wickramasekara have meanwhile been remanded until tomorrow (30). The suspects were remanded after being produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court yesterday (28). According to the Police, the suspects in custody include the person who provided the motorcycle used by the gunman, the person who repaired the motorcycle, and a three-wheeler driver allegedly linked to the incident.

Wickramasekara was shot dead on 22 October, inside his office at the Weligama PS premises by a gunman wearing a facemask and disguised as a visitor. According to the Police, the assailant, dressed in a white shirt and wearing a black face mask, entered Wickramasekara’s office under the pretext of signing a letter. Closed circuit television camera (CCTV) footage showed the suspect firing four shots at Wickramasekara, who was seated at his official desk, before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle with an accomplice. 

Wickramasekara sustained injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen and was admitted to the Matara District General Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Following the incident, Police teams were deployed under the direct supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Kithsiri Jayalath to investigate and apprehend those responsible.