Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala shared details from a report submitted by the Inspector General of Police regarding the assassination of crime boss 'Ganemulle Sanjeewa' inside a Colombo courtroom.

The interrogation of the shooter revealed that the bag containing the clothes worn during the crime was discarded on Rideewella Road in Kochchikade, and detectives have since retrieved it.

He said that a woman named Ishara Sewwandi Weerasinghe, a resident of Katuwellagama Road in Negombo, was identified as an accomplice in the crime. Efforts are underway to apprehend the 25-year-old suspect.

Further investigations have led to the arrest of a police constable, Lahiru Prasanna Athugala, from Padeniya, who was found to have aided and abetted the shooter. The constable, attached to the Negombo Police, had been in contact with the female suspect before and after the crime. He was arrested on February 20.

"Based in the information uncovered via the investigations, a police constable was arrested for aiding and abetting in carrying out this shooting. This police constable had been in touch with the female suspect before and after the crime. He was identified as a police constable attached to the Negombo Police, named Lahiru Prasanna Athugala with badge number 102216, from Padeniya. This police constable was arrested on Thursday (20)," he told the parliament.

The report detailed the shooter's movements post-crime, including his use of a PickMe three-wheeler and subsequent transfer to another vehicle.

"It has come to light that after carrying out the shooting, the shooter had hailed a PickMe three-wheeler, and proceeded to the Kadawa Kele Junction, and then boarded another blue color three-wheeler and proceed to the Rideewella Road in Kochchikade. The suspect had dumped his clothing bag at this location, the detectives had now taken custody of that bag. The female suspect had arrived at the location where the shooter was at in a separate three-wheeler. Investigation are underway to extract more information on this as well," he said.

The Public Security Minister revealed that information has come to light that the shooter, has joined the 3rd Commando Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army in December 2012 and was discharged in 2024, and the detailed are being verified from the Panagoda Military Installation.

Additionally, a KDH van with false plates was seized, and investigations revealed its true registration.

"The KDH van bearing registration number NW PE 5293 which was taken into custody, and upon inspection an invoice for a vehicle service center was recovered. The invoice bears the details of PF 7824, and investigations were underway to verify the ownership of the vehicle. When the engine number and chassis number of this vehicle was checked with the Department of Motor Traffic, it was revealed that the actual registration of the van was PF 7824, which was mentioned in the invoice found inside the van. Thus, it was revealed that the plates bearing NW PE 5293 were false plates," said the Minister.

CCTV footage from a lodging showed the suspects being transported to the crime scene in a white Honda Fit car, which has been seized as evidence. The day before the crime, a parcel containing the weapon and attire similar to that worn by lawyers was handed over to the suspects, by an individual who arrived in this car.

Minister Wijepala added that detectives will continue to record statements from several individuals as part of the ongoing investigation.

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala also addressed concerns raised by opposition groups regarding the shooting incident at the Magistrate's Court on February 19, 2025.

The Minister emphasized that certain opposition factions are attempting to instill unnecessary fear by claiming that the incident posed a threat to national security. He noted that historically, issues concerning national security have been a recurring theme in the country.

Minister Wijepala assured that the security measures for judges remain unchanged and are enforced as per the circular issued by the Inspector General of Police on December 3, 2011. He reiterated that the necessary security provisions for judges are in place.