Investigations into the shooting at a vehicle on Jubilee Mawatha near the Embaraluwa junction in Weliweriya on Saturday (5) have revealed that it was conspired by Dubai-based ‘Kehelbaddara’ Padme to take revenge in connection to an incident that occurred a year ago at a salon in Kehelbaddara, Gampaha, where a youth was shot and killed.
On Saturday, two persons on a motorcycle shot at a person in a car on Jubilee Mawatha near the Embaraluwa junction in Weliweriya, and fled.
The youth who was killed at the salon on August 5, 2022, was 22-years-old. Although the gunshot was aimed at a relative of ‘Kehelbaddara’ Padme, the bullet mistakenly struck this youth who was at the salon.
The Police have got information that ‘Kehelbaddara’ Padme has informed a few of his followers that he will take revenge from those connected to that incident, within a year.
Police said that the shooting in Weliweriya on Saturday (5) occurred a year after the killing of the youth, exactly to the date. The police said that the youth who was killed was not connected to the underworld or any crime.
The shooting incident at the salon had taken place as revenge for the murder of ‘Pas Podda’ that took place near the Gampaha Courts. Police believe that on behalf of ‘Pas Podda’, the shooting had been directed by a leader in the underworld, Makilangamuwe Sanjeewa who is currently in Dubai. Many murders have been directed by Makilangamuwe Sanjeewa in revenge of Pas Podda’s murder.
The Gampaha Police, after conducting the investigations in connection to the killing that occurred at the salon, have arrested several people. The Police Special Investigation Unit had assisted in the arrest of the suspects. Among the suspects was Pas Podda’s driver, a 24-year-old, who is known as ‘Wege Batta’. Police said that he was subject to a shooting at Weliweriya.
Investigations had further revealed that the suspect connected to the salon shooting who was released on bail had been shot at after he was invited to Weliweriya.
It has been revealed as per the information received by the Police that he had been invited to Weliweriya by a woman whom he had befriended through Facebook and who invited him to come to Weliweriya. Police said that this person who was travelling in a vehicle to meet the woman had been shot at by the two motorcyclists.
Police said that he had befriended the woman a week ago on Facebook and the day before had had gone in search of her upon her invitation. Senior police officers revealed that this entire exercise appears to be the work of ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’. Investigations find that they have aimed at this man and shot at him twice. He has been shot at the arm first and the second bullet has missed him. The third attempt too had failed.
With the failed attempts, the two attackers on the motorcycle had stopped a lorry plying on the Colombo–Kandy Road and travelled at the back of it. They had later travelled towards Colombo and had got off near Kadawatha and had fled thereafter without a trace.
Police said that the driver who was in the vehicle had been shot on his fingers and does not have any serious injuries. Intelligence reports have revealed that a retaliatory action can be expected from Makilangamuwe Sanjeewa over this incident.
Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe