• Suspect duo arrested over 2 shootings 

A Sub-Inspector of Police (SI) has been arrested on suspicion of maintaining close ties with organised crime suspect known by the alias ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’. According to Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police F.U. Wootler, the suspect was taken into custody by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). 

The arrested SI is reported to be attached to the Gampaha Division’s Crime Investigation Unit. Following the recent extradition of ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’ and four other criminal gang members from Indonesia, the CID has been interrogating the suspects. Based on revelations made during those interrogations, the SI in question was identified and subsequently taken into custody.

Meanwhile, two suspects connected to separate shooting incidents have been arrested, the Police stated.

One suspect was taken into custody on Wednesday evening (10) in Attidiya by a team of officers from the Western Province South Crimes Division. He has been apprehended in connection with a shooting that occurred on 24 August. In that incident, an unidentified individual arrived in a three-wheeler and fatally shot a person along the Malani Bulathsinhala Mawatha in Boralesgamuwa. The arrested suspect is believed to be the driver of the three-wheeler used in the shooting. He is a 22-year-old resident of Mount Lavinia.

In a separate case, a suspect has been arrested by officers of the Police Special Task Force Intelligence Unit in connection with a shooting that occurred on 22 August in the Seewalipura area of Borella. The individual was arrested in Ragama following a raid by the unit. The suspect, a 17-year-old resident of Aramangoda, Buthpitiya, was subsequently handed over to the Ragama Police for further investigation. Investigations have so far revealed that this suspect is a close associate of an organised criminal and drug trafficker.