April 08, Colombo (LNW): Authorities have confirmed the apprehension of two individuals believed to be involved in the fatal shooting of two young men near the sacred premises of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya in Devinuwara.
The suspects, aged 26 and 35, were taken into custody yesterday (07), after voluntarily surrendering through legal counsel at the Gandara Police Station.
According to police sources, one of the detainees has been identified as the primary assailant in the double murder.
The shooting, which occurred on March 21, saw two victims on a motorcycle gunned down in broad daylight by assailants travelling in a van. The attack took place on Sinhasana Road, directly in front of the revered temple, prompting heightened concern over brazen acts of violence taking place in culturally and religiously significant spaces.
Police investigations into the case have since intensified, with the arrested individuals now undergoing questioning to uncover the broader network potentially linked to the killings.
In a separate but similarly disturbing case, law enforcement officials apprehended a 23-year-old suspect connected to a recent shooting in the Hikkaduwa Police Division. The individual, a resident of Gonapeenuwala, was arrested in the Ginimellagamaha area on the same day.
This second incident, which took place on April 03, involved two gunmen on a motorcycle who opened fire on a man and a woman standing near a clothing outlet in Kumarakanda. Both sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. Tragically, the male victim later died as a result of his wounds.
The suspect in custody is believed to have assisted in facilitating the attack, though authorities have not ruled out his direct involvement. Police are continuing to trace the movements of the gunmen and are analysing CCTV footage and call records in an effort to build a clearer picture of the incident.
