The incident highlights a troubling rise in gang violence and critiques the safety protocols in the country's judicial system.
**Courtroom Ambush: Gang Leader Shot by Disguised Assailant in Colombo**
**Courtroom Ambush: Gang Leader Shot by Disguised Assailant in Colombo**
A notorious gang leader has been assassinated in a Sri Lankan courthouse, raising alarm over security measures.
The bustling courthouse in Colombo turned into a crime scene as Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne, a prominent gang leader known as Ganemulle Sanjeewa, was fatally shot by a man disguised as an attorney. Sources indicate that the assailant smuggled a revolver into the court hidden inside a hollowed-out book, assisted by a female accomplice who remains on the run.
Samararathne, who was awaiting trial amidst serious allegations including multiple murders, was under the escort of a dozen police officers when the incident unfolded. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Following the execution-style shooting, the gunman fled but was apprehended shortly after. Authorities have since revealed that he operated under several aliases. The alleged female accomplice, 25-year-old Pinpura Dewage Ishara Sewwandi, is still evading capture, prompting authorities to solicit help from the public and offer rewards for any information.
The shocking incident has reignited discussions in the Sri Lankan parliament regarding gang violence. An opposition member labeled the situation as a "major security issue," emphasizing the urgent need for robust reforms.
Nalinda Jayatissa, the Health and Mass Media Minister, affirmed earlier commitments to address organized crime, stating that the government is resolute in tackling underworld operations. In the wake of the courtroom shooting, authorities are re-evaluating security protocols, now considering the deployment of armed guards during trials of high-risk individuals — a significant departure from previous regulations.
As gang-related violence escalates in Sri Lanka, with at least nine casualties attributed to this surge in recent weeks, the incident underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in maintaining public safety and judicial integrity.
Samararathne, who was awaiting trial amidst serious allegations including multiple murders, was under the escort of a dozen police officers when the incident unfolded. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Following the execution-style shooting, the gunman fled but was apprehended shortly after. Authorities have since revealed that he operated under several aliases. The alleged female accomplice, 25-year-old Pinpura Dewage Ishara Sewwandi, is still evading capture, prompting authorities to solicit help from the public and offer rewards for any information.
The shocking incident has reignited discussions in the Sri Lankan parliament regarding gang violence. An opposition member labeled the situation as a "major security issue," emphasizing the urgent need for robust reforms.
Nalinda Jayatissa, the Health and Mass Media Minister, affirmed earlier commitments to address organized crime, stating that the government is resolute in tackling underworld operations. In the wake of the courtroom shooting, authorities are re-evaluating security protocols, now considering the deployment of armed guards during trials of high-risk individuals — a significant departure from previous regulations.
As gang-related violence escalates in Sri Lanka, with at least nine casualties attributed to this surge in recent weeks, the incident underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in maintaining public safety and judicial integrity.
