Jeep Used in Kahawatta Murder Tied to Drug Trafficking

COLOMBO (News 1st); A chilling murder in Kahawatta’s Andana area has led investigators to uncover a deeper criminal network involving drug trafficking and international connections.

A jeep used in the fatal shooting of a youth in the Andana area of Kahawatta has been recovered by police. The vehicle was reportedly provided to the gunman for drug transportation purposes.

This discovery was made following the interrogation of the suspect involved in the shooting. This suspect is reportedly the individual who carried out the shooting.

Investigations have revealed that the jeep was supplied by an individual identified as Tanuja Sampath, also known as "Handapangoda Handaya", who is believed to be a drug trafficker.

According to information obtained from the suspect, the jeep had been used to transport narcotics to areas including Kurunegala.

Police further stated that the youth in Kahawatta was murdered under a contract allegedly issued by Handaya, who is currently residing in Dubai.

The suspect, believed to be the shooter, was arrested the on Monday (21) in Kiribathgoda.

The arrest was made based on intelligence provided to the Special Task Force during an extensive investigation conducted by the Colombo North Crimes Division.

The suspect is a 43-year-old resident of Rambukkana.

Police confirmed that the suspect had served in the military for 18 years.

On June 30, a group of armed individuals posing as police officers arrived at a house in the Koskaella area of Andana and abducted two brothers and their friend.

They were taken in a jeep to a remote location in the Koskaella area, where they were shot.

During the incident, 22-year-old Iranta Suranjana was killed.

His friend was also injured in the shooting.

The elder of the two brothers managed to escape and survive by fleeing from the abductors.