Bastian Mawath shooter killed in police shootout : Detectives reveal criminal past

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police on Monday (4) revealed that the criminal gangster gunned down during a shooting with police was wanted for multiple crimes including murder dating back to 2004.

Sri Lanka Police said the Colombo Crimes Division was conducting an investigation into an incident where one man was gunned down and another was injured at the Bastian Mawatha Private Bus Terminal in Colombo on the 30th of June 2022.

Thereafter, detectives received a tip-off that the suspect who carried out the shooting was hiding in a house in Ihalagama, Gampaha.

Based on the information CCD officers had visited the premises early morning on Monday (4), and the suspect upon seeing the approaching police officers had fled using a motorcycle.

Sri Lanka Police said that CCD officers chased after the suspect and discovered the motorcycle abandoned.

Thereafter, the suspect opened fire at the police officers, and police officers returned fire injuring the suspect.

The suspect was 41-year-old Ihala Vithanage Joseph alias Josa, and he died upon admission to the Gampaha Hospital.

Police officers recovered a T-56 Assault Rifle used by the suspect to fire at police officers, a magazine, 5 live rounds, 4 bullet casings, a motorcycle, a helmet, and a traveling bag from the location where the suspect was shot and injured.

Detectives have uncovered that the slain gangster had committed multiple crimes on the instructions of notorious underworld gangster Stanley Kennedy Fernando alias Bumma.

In addition, he also shot dead a woman opposite the Welikada Prison on the instructions of slain underworld leader Makandure Madush.

Sri Lanka Police said the suspect Josa had committed multiple crimes including murder, attempted murder, heroin possession, extortion, intimidation, weapons possession, and setting fire to property inside the Galle Prison, dating back to 2004, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2019.

Detectives have also revealed that he was involved in trafficking drugs by maintaining close ties with two notorious criminals who were operating a drug trafficking ring in the southern province, from overseas.

Investigations had revealed that he had thereafter fled to India and later returned to carry out murders on the instructions of a criminal gang leader and drug trafficker operating from the Gampaha District.