The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, for the past two days, various matters regarding the shooting at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and the shooting in Middeniya have been raised in this House. The Opposition alleged that these incidents indicate a collapse in national security, and concerns were raised about a reduction in security for judges. I wish to comment on those matters.

¶ 02 First, I state the Government’s regret regarding the shooting at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on 19.02.2025. The Sri Lanka Police conducted prompt investigations and arrested the suspected shooter within eight hours. The Police’s dedication and competence must be appreciated. There were crimes in the past where no suspect was ever apprehended due to political links. Our Government has granted the Police the freedom to investigate, and efficient probes are being conducted.

¶ 03 Regarding the Middeniya murders of Mr. Aruna Vidananagama and his two children, three suspects have been arrested about an hour ago: Jeevan Prasad Kumar, Prabath Tushara, and Police Constable 82493 I. L. Janaka Prasad. We investigate immediately and take all necessary steps to bring suspects before the law. Certain Opposition groups seek to create a false impression of a threat to national security. Such fearmongering has been used historically. While this is not the first shooting in court premises, we do not trivialize it; the Government treats it very seriously and has intervened firmly.

¶ 04 Underworld gangs grew over decades with political patronage. These gangs are linked to drugs, smuggling and murders. Many underworld shootings previously were clashes among gang members; some deceased were gang leaders accused of multiple homicides. We highlight this to show how such persons operated in the past under political protection. Now, under the National People’s Power Government, all political protection has been removed. No MP or Minister is connected to any gang. Police have full freedom, with no political interference; investigations proceed without politicization.

¶ 05 On judges’ security: as per the IGP’s circular dated 03 December 2011, security for judges is in place as before. There has been no change to security for Magistrates, Additional Magistrates, District Judges, the Secretary and officials of the Judicial Service Commission, High Court Judges, Provincial Civil Appellate Court Judges, Commercial High Court Judges, Court of Appeal Judges and Supreme Court Judges. A Police coordinating officer has been appointed for judges’ security. Any issues can be coordinated through him.

¶ 06 On the 19th February Colombo Magistrate’s Court shooting, according to the IGP’s report, officers of Colombo Crime Division, STF and CID are jointly investigating. Suspect Samindu Dilshan Piyumanga Kadanarachchi (age 27), of No. 202, 1/A, Dambahena Road, Maharagama, was arrested at 16:30 hrs in the Palaviya Junction area by Puttalam STF officers on suspicion of murder. A foreign-made green live hand grenade was recovered from his travel bag as a production.

¶ 07 Another suspect, Mahesh Sampath Priyadarshana (age 47), the driver of a KDH van bearing plates NW PE 5293, was arrested for aiding and abetting the gunman; the van was taken into custody. The shooter stated he placed the clothes worn during the crime in a bag left on Ridiyawella Road, Kochchikade; that bag has been recovered. A female suspect, Ishara Sewwandi Weerasinghe (age 25) of Katunellagema Road, Negombo, identified as having accompanied the shooter, is being sought. A Police Constable, 102216 Lagiru Prasanna Athugala of Negombo Police, residing at 6565 Anga, Padeniya, who had contacts with the female suspect before and after the incident, was arrested yesterday for aiding and abetting the shooting and murder. We make arrests irrespective of whether suspects are police, military or civilians.

¶ 08 After the shooting, the gunman fled the court premises, boarded a three-wheeler marked “BSS”, then a blue three-wheeler near Kadolkale Junction, and later stopped on Ridiyawella Road, Kochchikade, where he discarded the bag with the crime clothes, now recovered. The female suspect came separately by another three-wheeler; further details are under investigation.

¶ 09 The shooter had served as No. 559189 in the 3rd Commando Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army from 12.12.2019 and left under a general amnesty in May 2024. Verification has been requested from Panagoda Army Pay and Records. The van bearing plates NW PE 5293 had a service bill inside with number PF 7824. Checks with the Department of Motor Traffic confirm the correct registration is PF 7824; the plate NW PE 5293 fixed on the van was fake.

¶ 10 Prior to the crime, a lodge in Kaduwela where the shooter and the female stayed was examined; CID fingerprint experts inspected a room. CCTV showed the suspects arriving in a white Honda Fit car WP CAC 8711, which has been seized; ownership is being verified. The suspects had received a parcel at the lodge before the crime, containing the firearm and attire resembling a lawyer’s outfit worn by the shooter, as revealed by the suspect’s statement and identification.

¶ 11 Statements from police on duty at Court No. 5, other police present on court duty, court staff, lawyers, and private security at the main gate have been recorded, with more to be taken. The postmortem on Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatna alias “Ganemulle Sanjeewa” was conducted on 20.02.2025 by Assistant JMO Dulanga at the Colombo JMO’s Office. The body was released to Alan Nonis Mendis of No. 141/8, Makilangamuwa, Ganemulla. Suspects are in remand by court order; further investigations continue. The IGP submitted this report to me.

¶ 12 Regarding the Middeniya case, suspects including a police officer have been arrested. As emphasized by H.E. the President at yesterday’s Advisory Council, some state institutions, especially within the Police, have been complicit in underworld activities. As Minister in charge, I am paying close attention and decisions have been taken; more will follow. We will not allow any harm to national security. These are localized underworld crimes; the Government is taking every step to suppress organized crime. Certain details cannot be disclosed now to avoid hampering investigations, but progress reports will be presented to this Parliament from time to time.

¶ 13 Thank you.