A notorious underworld figure in Sri Lanka was fatally shot inside a courtroom on Wednesday by an assailant disguised as a lawyer, according to a BBC report. The gang leader, Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne, accused in multiple homicide cases, had been escorted under heavy security by the elite Special Task Force. As he stepped into the defendant’s dock for his bail hearing at the Colombo Magistrates Court, he was shot point-blank. Authorities confirmed he was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Known as Ganemulle Sanjeewa, the suspect had been detained since his arrest in September 2023. Investigators revealed that the attacker smuggled a revolver inside a hollowed-out book, aided by a female accomplice, 25-year-old Pinpura Dewage Ishara Sewwandi. Though the shooter managed to escape initially, law enforcement later apprehended him. A reward has been announced for any leads on the woman’s whereabouts. Additionally, a police officer and a van driver suspected of assisting the perpetrators have been taken into custody.
This killing adds to a series of gang-related assassinations, with at least nine fatalities recorded this year due to turf wars. The incident has intensified concerns over courthouse security, prompting officials to reevaluate safety measures. In parliament, legislators debated the growing threat of organized crime, with Minister Nalinda Jayatissa reaffirming the government’s commitment to tackling underworld networks. Enhanced security protocols, including armed escorts for high-risk detainees, are now being enforced.
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