Police Special Task Force (STF) officers have arrested two suspects linked to a recent shooting in Kolonna that resulted in the death of a local resident. The arrests were made near a garment factory in the Middeniya police area by the STF Organised Crime Unit I.

The suspects, Ramanayakage Indika Kumara, alias ‘Kale Mahinda’, and Jayawardena Abeysinghe Pathiranage Sandakelum Jayawardena, were found in possession of two locally manufactured ‘Galkatas’ firearms, two rounds of live 12-bore ammunition, 100 grams of heroin, a motorcycle suspected to have been used in the crime, and three mobile phones. They have been handed over to the Kolonna Police Station for further investigation.

Investigations revealed that the suspects are close associates of "Rotumba Amila", a member of an organized crime syndicate operating a drug network from France. The victim, S.B. Kimarasena, was allegedly killed in retaliation for a previous assault on a relative of 'Rotumba Amila'.

Further evidence indicates that 'Rotumba Amila' provided Rs. 400,000 in cash and heroin to the suspects for the execution of the murder. Both arrested individuals have prior convictions for robbery, assault, and murder, with ongoing court cases against them.