According to investigators, key details surfaced after the arrest of the gunman in Nawinna, Maharagama. The contract had reportedly been arranged through a close associate of underworld figures “Midigama Ruwan” and “Chuti,” who had ensured the payment was made before the murder.
The shooter, who came to Colombo from Kekirawa, had spent hours in Pettah searching for the drug ‘Ice’ before moving to Borella and Dematagoda. Failing to find it, he travelled to Kottawa and boarded a bus to Maharagama following instructions from his Dubai contact not to travel south.
He later went to a mobile phone shop in Nawinna to buy a new phone as instructed. After leaving the shop, an intelligence officer returning home recognised him and gave chase. Believing he was a phone snatcher, bystanders helped apprehend the suspect.
Police said the suspect was not connected to the military and had only primary education.
CCTV footage had earlier shown that the shooter and motorcyclist fled Weligama together after the killing, but separated later, with the shooter picking up his wife and heading to Kekirawa via Mahiyangana and Wellawaya.
Investigators found Rs. 1.2 million of the Rs. 1.5 million payment in the possession of the suspect’s wife.
