Attempted shooting thwarted in Dehiwala

An attempt to shoot a bakery owner near the Dahanayake playground on Kadawatha Road in Dehiwala was thwarted tonight.

Assistant Superintendent of Police and Police Media Spokesperson Udaya Kumara Wutler stated that around 8.10 p.m., two unidentified individuals arrived on a scooter motorcycle, and one of them attempted to carry out this attack.

However, because the shooter's firearm failed to discharge, the bakery owner acted immediately and wrestled with the shooter to take the firearm into his own custody.

During this struggle, the bakery owner sustained minor injuries, and the two suspects fled from the location.

Disclosing the background behind this incident, the police mention that the son of the targeted bakery owner is connected to the drug trafficking operation of alleged organised criminal gang member 'Kos Malli,' and that he is currently in police custody and remanded over drugs.

According to preliminary investigations, the police suspect that the individuals who came to carry out this shooting likely belong to either the faction of 'Sando' or the faction of 'Badovita Asanka.'

Dehiwala police deployed two special police teams to conduct a broad investigation to arrest the fleeing shooter and the individual who drove the motorcycle.