Colombo, 21 February (HS): Opposition created ruckus in Parliament over the murder of underworld kingpin Ganemulla Sanjeewa in the court room. Opposition demanded an answer from the government as to how the security system of the country became so weak that someone could enter the court and shoot someone. The murder of underworld kingpin Sanjeewa in front of the judge in court number five of Hulftsdorp court complex on Wednesday morning has sparked a debate on the issue of security across the country.

According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, the opposition created a ruckus in Parliament on Thursday over the Sanjiva murder case. The government was stunned by the contradictory statements of its two senior ministers in this case yesterday afternoon. After the ruckus created by the opposition, Public Security Minister Anand Wijepala responded. He said that this is a different kind of incident. Such incidents should not be seen as a threat to national security. Only gangsters are responsible for this.

Cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said in a briefing that the government has taken the murder seriously. The shooter was arrested within seven hours. All other suspects will also be arrested.

Speaking during yesterday’s Parliamentary session regarding the arrested suspects involved in the ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’ assassination, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala stated that the main suspect has been identified as Samindu Dilshan Piyumanga Kandanaarachchi, a resident of Dambahena Road, Maharagama.

However, the Police Media Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent of Police Buddhika Manathunga stated on Wednesday that the suspect had appeared under several different names including Mohamed Azam Sherifdeen at various instances.

Furthermore, a police officer attached to the Negombo Police Station was arrested yesterday over his alleged links with the female suspect wanted in connection with the murder of ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’. The Policeman in question is said to be a Trainee Police Constable (PC) assigned to Court duty under the Negombo Police Crimes Unit and has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). He is a 25-year-old resident of Padeniya. Investigations have uncovered that the said police officer had engaged in a phone conversation with the said woman, Pinpura Dewage Ishara Sewuwandi. The Policeman has been taken into custody after recording a preliminary statement while he has been taken to the CCD for further investigations.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar