September 09, Colombo (LNW): Law enforcement authorities have arrested three individuals in connection with the recent double murder that took place in Thekkawatta, Middeniya.
The suspects, all 25 years of age and hailing from Embilipitiya, were apprehended during a targeted operation carried out by the Tangalle Division’s Criminal Investigation Unit.
The investigation stems from the grisly discovery of two bodies in a teak plantation in Thorakolayaya, Middeniya, in June this year. The victims, aged 26 and 40, were also identified as residents of Embilipitiya.
Their deaths were the result of gunshot wounds, and the killings sent shockwaves through the local community, prompting a large-scale police inquiry.
Following the arrest of the suspects in Embilipitiya, police conducted interrogations which led to the recovery of a substantial arsenal of weapons and ammunition believed to be linked to the shootings. Among the items seized were:
* A submachine gun resembling an Uzi
* A 9mm pistol
* Fifty-three rounds of 9mm ammunition
* Twenty-five rounds of foreign-manufactured 12-gauge shotgun ammunition
* Four rounds of .45 calibre bullets
* Nineteen rounds of T-56 assault rifle ammunition
* Two spent T-56 cartridges
* A pair of handcuffs
* 300 milligrams of heroin
The seizure suggests the group may have access to an organised supply of illegal weaponry and narcotics. Investigators are now looking into whether the suspects have links to broader criminal networks operating in the region or beyond.
The presence of high-powered firearms and military-grade ammunition has heightened fears that this may not be an isolated incident, but rather part of a more extensive pattern of organised violence. Security officials have indicated that further arrests may be forthcoming as the investigation expands.
