COLOMBO (News 1^st) – Two shootings have been reported from Malabe and Athurugiriya over the past 24 hours.

With this, the total number of deaths caused by shootings has risen to seven over the past three months.

The Organized Crimes Division has begun investigations into the shooting carried out at around 2.40 AM down Jothipala Mawatha in Athurugiriya.

Police suspect that the shootout was carried out using a T56 firearm and targeted the residence of State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe’s personal assistant, damaging windows and walls of the house.

The second incident was reported from Himbutana, Mulleriyawa as a 46-year-old resident was gunned down in the Wewa Para area in Malabe around 7 PM yesterday (March 25).

According to the Police, the shooting has been carried out by two armed motorcyclists.

Investigations have revealed the deceased was a loan shark and had been an associate of underworld figure “Angoda Lokka.”