Police Hunt Gunmen Behind Malgawatte Assassination

COLOMBO (News 1st); Kotahena Police have reported facts to the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court regarding the fatal shooting of a relative of alleged organized crime gang leader Kanjipani Imran.

The facts were presented before Colombo Additional Magistrate Liyan Varusha Vithana.

Kotahena Police informed court that two unidentified gunmen had carried out the attack, shooting the victim in the head and neck.

The victim was identified as Mohamed Aspi Mohideen, a businessman who operated a hardware store at No. 480, Sangharaja Mawatha.

Police further informed court that investigations are underway to trace the suspects involved in the killing, but that no information regarding their identities has been uncovered so far.

The court ordered police to conduct an expedited investigation into the incident and report progress without delay.

Meanwhile, Airport Police today produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court two suspects who were brought to Sri Lanka from Malaysia yesterday together with 'Rathmalane Saima', an associate of organized crime figure Kanjipani Imran.

Airport Police officers informed court that the two suspects had been arrested in Malaysia while staying with the criminal suspect known as Rathmalane Saima and were subsequently brought back to Sri Lanka.

Additional Magistrate Subhani Abeysekara ordered that the two suspects be remanded until August 17 and directed police to continue investigations and submit a progress report to court.

The suspects produced before court were identified as Laddu-Handige Lasantha Lakmal Silva and Viyanage Ishan Shalinda Kumara.

Meanwhile, Rathmalane Saima remains in the custody of Peradeniya Police under a 48-hour detention order following his production before the Kandy Magistrate's Court.