Police investigators are pursuing leads indicating that the two hitmen responsible for the assassination of Surendra Wasantha Perera, also known as Club Wasantha, on July 8th at the opening of a tattoo parlour in Aturugiriya town, have escaped the country.
The attack, which claimed Wasantha’s life and that of his driver, with four others injured near the Aturugiriya police station, has prompted a widespread search. Senior police sources suggest the hitmen likely departed via trawler from the Southern coast shortly after the incident.
Efforts by police and Special Task Force units over the past week to locate the fugitives at suspected hideouts have so far been unsuccessful. A senior officer commented, "This was a high-profile attack. We suspect the hitmen fled within 24 hours of the incident, though our investigation continues."
Authorities believe the attackers, skilled in military tactics, are former security personnel. Seven individuals have been detained in connection with the crime, while a coordinated effort involving 10 police teams remains ongoing.
Security measures have intensified in coastal regions following reports that the assassins might attempt a maritime escape.
