- Notorious gang leader shot dead in Sri Lankan courthouse
- Gunman disguised as lawyer used revolver smuggled in hollowed-out book
- Authorities vow to crack down on gang violence amid series of killings
A notorious gang leader, Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne, has been fatally shot inside a courthouse in Sri Lanka by a gunman disguised as a lawyer, according to police reports.
The shooting occurred in the capital, Colombo, while Samararathne was being escorted to court for proceedings. Authorities stated that the gunman used a revolver which had been smuggled into the courthouse inside a hollowed-out book by a female accomplice, who remains on the run.
Samararathne, known by his criminal alias “Ganemulle Sanjeewa,” was a suspect in multiple murder cases and had been in police custody since his arrest in September 2023. On the day of the shooting, he was escorted to the courthouse by a dozen police officers.
After being shot, Samararathne was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. The gunman, who managed to flee the scene, was later apprehended by police. Although the suspect has been identified under multiple names by both authorities and local media, the police have not yet confirmed his real identity.
The female accomplice, identified as 25-year-old Pinpura Dewage Ishara Sewwandi, remains at large. In response, authorities have issued a notice offering a reward for anyone with information leading to her capture. Additionally, police have arrested a policeman and a van driver suspected of assisting the gunman and his accomplice in the shooting.
The shooting has sparked a renewed debate in Sri Lanka over gang violence, which has plagued the country in recent years. On Wednesday, lawmakers in parliament discussed the growing threat of gang-related violence, with an opposition MP calling it a “major security issue.”
Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, who had previously pledged to take stronger action against organized crime, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the issue. “We will take the actions of organized underworld gangs seriously,” he stated.
The courthouse shooting has raised concerns about security protocols within the judicial system. Authorities are now reviewing current security measures and have introduced new protocols in response to the incident. These include deploying armed guards for certain high-risk individuals brought to court, a departure from the typical policy of not allowing armed security personnel inside courtrooms. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara confirmed the implementation of these measures on Thursday.
The shooting adds to a rising toll of gang-related killings in Sri Lanka, with at least nine people having died this year alone in a series of shootings attributed to rival gang violence, according to AFP citing police data.
