The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has arrested the former Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Anuradhapura Sanjeewa Mahanama, who allegedly assisted in the orchestrated shooting targeting the vehicle of former Parliamentarian Uddika Premarathne.

On 14 June, the Police said that it was uncovered that the incident where several gunshots had been fired at the vehicle belonging to the then Anuradhapura District MP Premarathne, had been staged by the actor turned politician himself with the help of the Anuradhapura ASP. 

On 17 September of last year (2023), it was initially reported that a group of unidentified gunmen had opened fire at Premarathne’s car soon after he returned to his residence in Anuradhapura at around 10.35 p.m. and that Premarathne had managed to escape unharmed. It was claimed that the perpetrators, who had arrived in a car, had targeted Premarathne who was walking towards the house after parking his vehicle. The left rear door glass of Premarathne’s car was damaged in the shooting incident for which the gunmen were believed to have used a pistol, it was reported.

Anuradhapura Police initiated investigations soon after the incident was reported and Special Task Force personnel were deployed to beef up the security near Premarathne’s house. Later, investigations into the matter were handed over to the CID.

Subsequently, on 27 February of this year (2024), the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP resigned as an MP. However, Premarathne was later reported to have travelled to Canada, seeking political asylum, which he refuted, and claimed that he was expecting a work visa in Canada. In 2020, the actor was announced as a candidate for the 2020 Parliamentary Election from the Anuradhapura District as a member of the Sri Lanka People’s Freedom Alliance, a political alliance led by the SLPP that was formed in 2019. He obtained 133,550 votes and won a seat in the 16th Parliament.