Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunsekera said two gunmen had opened fire on the chief incumbent of the Kiriwehera temple "on a contract." 

They had been paid Rs. 3 million for carrying out the contract. The contract, the spokesman said, had been given by a persona named Asela Bandara, former Kapurala of the Mahasen Devalaya, in Kataragama. 

The hired gunmen are 18 year old youths in the area, Gunasekera said. 

All three of them have currently been arrested by the Police. 

Police investigations revealed that the reason behind the shootout targeting the Chief Incumbent of the  Kataragama Kirivehera was a dispute over the ownership of the Mahasen Devalaya. 

The Devalaya had been placed under the custody of Kobawaka Dhamminda Thera, Chief  Incumbent of the Kiriwehera, by a court order last year. 

The Police said  former Kapurala of the Devalaya, who was displeased with the court order, was behind the shooting incident.