Gunman in Dehiwala cemetery shooting caught in Anuradhapura

The gunman linked to the shooting of the security guard at Dehiwala cemetery has been arrested by the Police while he was hiding in the Ambatalagama area of Mihintale.

Questioning of the gunman revealed that the shooting was orchestrated by Kaluboowila Avishka and Kos Malli, and that the gunman had been paid Rs. 200,000 for carrying it out.

Two unidentified gunmen had shot and fled after attacking the security guard of the Dehiwala cemetery on July 19.

CCTV footage had also captured the gunmen fleeing the scene after the shooting.

The person who was shot was the father of a person known as 'Sando,' known to be an alleged drug trafficker.

The Western Province South Crimes Division had launched investigations into the incident.

Investigators had recently arrested the rider of the motorcycle used by the gunmen to arrive for the shooting.

Questioning of the rider revealed that the gunman was hiding in a house in the Mihintale area.

Acting on this information, the Police carried out an operation and arrested the gunman along with a woman in the Ambatalagama area of Mihintale.

Police said the gunman is a 44-year-old former soldier, and the 35-year-old woman arrested along with him was his mistress.

Police also took into custody a handbag containing a concealed firearm and two mobile phones found in their possession.

Questioning of the gunman revealed that he, along with another individual, had come to the Dehiwala cemetery on the morning of July 19 under the guise of lighting a lamp at a grave.

However, it was also revealed that, as their intended target, the security guard, was not present at the time, they returned later that same evening and have carried out the shooting.

Investigators have found that the shooting was orchestrated by alleged organised criminals and large-scale drug traffickers Avishka Eshan, alias 'Kaluboowila Avishka,' and 'Kos Malli.'

Police say the gunman also revealed that he had been paid Rs 200,000 for carrying out the act.