Midigama Shooting : 08 including gunman arrested

The Police have arrested eight suspects, including the chief suspect, involved in the shooting reported in the Goviyapana area in Midigama on 19 September, in which one person was killed and two others were injured. 

The suspects were arrested in the Ahangama and Midigama areas yesterday by officials from the Crimes Investigation Unit of the Matara Division. 

The suspects include the gunmen who had used a motorcycle and a pistol to carry out the shooting, one person who had taken custody of the weapon and five bullets, and five men and a woman who had aided the shooting. 

The three-wheeler used to transport the weapon following the shooting has also been taken into Police custody.

The suspects are aged between 20 and 42 years and are residents of the Ahangama, Weligama, and Wellawaya areas.

During the arrest, the Police found Rs. 1,542,000 from the suspect who was in possession of the weapon, with the Police suspecting the money may have been used for drug trafficking.

Preliminary investigations have found that the suspect was a close associate of an individual involved in organized crimes and drug peddling, currently residing overseas. 

The Crimes Investigation Unit of the Matara Division is conducting further investigations. (Islandnews)