Gunman arrested in Ganemulla Sanjeewa killing

The suspected gunman who shot and killed notorious underworld figure and drug trafficker Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne, also known as “Ganemulla Sanjeewa,” inside the Hulftsdorp Court Complex this morning (February 19) has been arrested.

The suspect was apprehended by the Police Special Task Force (STF) in the Palaviya area of Puttalam at around 4:30 PM while attempting to flee in a van.

According to police sources, he is a former commando of the Sri Lanka Army.

The shooting occurred around 10:00 AM inside Court No. 05 of the Aluthkade Courts Complex (Hulftsdorp). According to the police spokesperson, the suspect, disguised as a lawyer, opened fire multiple times as Sanjeewa was about to step out of the defendant’s dock.

After the attack, he abandoned the revolver at the scene and escaped through a nearby door.

Investigations revealed that the revolver had been carefully concealed inside a legal document book titled Code of Criminal Procedure, commonly used by lawyers in court.

Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manathunga stated that the pages of the book had been cut to the shape of a revolver, allowing the weapon to be hidden inside.

The firearm had been meticulously smuggled into the court by criminals. It was also discovered that a woman, disguised as a lawyer, handed the book to the suspect inside the court premises. Authorities are actively searching for her in order to make an arrest.

Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manathunga further stated that the individual arrested in the Palaviya area of Puttalam is known by several names. It was also revealed that he possesses multiple identification cards, including a forged lawyer’s ID designed to make him appear as an attorney.

Initially, he was identified as Mohamed Azman Sheriffdeen, but he later used the name Samindu Dilshan Piyumanga Kandanaarachchi. A fake lawyer’s ID, bearing the name Kodikarage Kasun Prabath Nissanka, was also found by the police.

The Police Spokesman further mentioned that investigations into the Ganemulla Sanjeewa murder case are being carried out by the Colombo Crime Division.