A notorious gang leader has reportedly died after he was shot inside a courthouse in Sri Lanka by an assassin disguised as a lawyer.
Police said the gunman used a pistol secreted within a hollowed-out book by a female suspect, who is still at large.
Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne, the gang’s leader, was being brought to court when he was shot. Police believe he was a suspect in several murders.
The shooting in the capital, Colombo, is one of a series of killings by rival gangs that has continued as officials vow to crack down on gang violence in the country.
The gang boss, known as Ganemulle Sanjeewa, has been in captivity since his arrest in September 2023.
Police claimed he had been led to the courthouse on Wednesday by a dozen police officers. He was rushed to the hospital after being shot but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The gunman fled the scene but was eventually apprehended by police. Authorities and local media have identified him differently, but investigators believe he used multiple names.
The female suspect has been named by police as Pinpura Dewage Ishara Sewwandi, aged 25.
Authorities have issued a notice promising a prize for anyone with information on the woman. Police have also arrested a police officer and a van driver suspected of assisting the two suspects in the shooting.
On Wednesday, lawmakers debated reducing gang violence in parliament, with one opposition MP calling it a “major security issue.”.
Health and mass media minister Nalinda Jayatissa, who promised in December to crack down on such illegal behavior, said on Wednesday that the government will “take the actions of organized underworld gangs seriously.”
The event has also sparked concerns about courthouse security, which authorities are presently reviewing.
Following the shooting, new security mechanisms are being adopted, including the deployment of armed guards when specific individuals are taken to court. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara stated on Thursday that armed security guards are normally not permitted in court.
According to AFP, at least nine people have died this year as a result of gang-related killings.
