The Police has arrested another suspect allegedly involved in the Beliatta mass shooting in which five people were killed.

The new development brings the total number of suspects arrested over the quintuple murder to 13.

The 24-year-old had surrendered to the Police through a lawyer on Tuesday (6). He was identified as a resident of Imbulgoda, Akuressa.

The shooting took place on 23 January near the Beliatta Interchange of the Southern Expressway. A group of assailants in a sports utility vehicle (SUV) had opened fire at a white Defender, killing four persons at the scene. The fifth person who was inside the Defender was rushed to the Tangalle Base Hospital with critical gunshot wounds, but he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Among the deceased was the Leader of the ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya (Our Power of People Party or OPPP)’, Saman Perera. The other four victims were identified as Sameera Madhusanka, Hasitha Chinsuka, Buddhika Rajapaksha, and Nalin Champika. The SUV used in the shooting was later found while parked near the Vidyaloka Pirivena in Galle. Among the arrestees are the driver of the SUV, as well as the wife and father of the main shooter who was identified as a retired Naval person now on the run.