"Ketawalapitiye Sampath" shot dead in Gampaha

COLOMBO (News 1st): Underworld gang member and drug trafficker who went by the alias, "Ketawalapitiye Sampath" was shot dead by Sri Lanka Police on Friday (June 26), in Gampaha. The suspect had several charges of murder and drug smuggling, leveled against him, according to a communique issued by the Police Headquarters. According to Police, "Ketawalapitiye Sampath" was a subordinate of notorious underworld gangster "Ganemulle Sanjeewa." "The suspect - 'Ketawalapitiye Sampath' had driven off on his motorcycle ignoring police orders to stop at a road blockade along Puwakwatte road in Malwathuhiripitiya, Gampaha at around 5:30 am today," the Police HQ statement noted. The suspect who had opened fire at officers following a police pursuit had died in retaliatory fire. "Ketawalapitiye Sampath" was a 25 year old resident of Mee-witiya, Ellakkala. A revolver manufactured overseas was seized from the suspect's possession. The suspect had functioned as a shooter for various criminal gangs and investigations have revealed the suspect was also connected to the shooting that killed a woman on the 28th of August 2018, in Kadawatha, according to Sri Lanka Police.