A 30-year-old was arrested on suspicion of taking possession of the firearms that were used in the mass shooting in Beliatta. According to the Police, the arrest was made in Rathgama, Galle.

On 23 January, a group of persons, who had arrived in an Mitsubishi Pajero jeep, had shot at a group who was in a white Land Rover Defender vehicle near the Beliatta interchange of the Southern Expressway. As a result of the shooting, four persons died on the spot, while another person succumbed to injuries after being rushed to the Tangalle Hospital with critical gunshot wounds.

Among the deceased was the leader of the Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya (Our Power of People Party or OPPP) Saman Perera. The other victims were identified as Sameera Madhusanka, Hasitha Chinsuka, Buddhika Rajapaksha, and Nalin Champika.

Thus far, three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident. While one suspect is believed to be the driver of the SUV and the mastermind behind the shorting, two more suspects were arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the mass shooting.

The multiple homicide came while the Sri Lanka Police is engaged in an islandwide operation, ‘Yukthiya’, with the stated aim of dismantling organised crime and drug trafficking. However, despite over 30,000 suspects having been arrested, a majority drug abusers and small-time criminals, no notable drug barons have been brought to book thus far.