Colombo, February 20 (HS): The murder of underworld kingpin Ganemulla Sanjeewa inside Court No. 5 of the Hulftsdorp court complex in Sri Lanka's capital amid tight police security arrangements has raised serious questions. Police spokesman and Senior Superintendent of Police Buddhika Manatunga admitted that the killers took advantage of the fact that the police do not check lawyers. Manatunga admitted that there were flaws in the security system. Steps will be taken in the future to correct them.
According to The Iceland Newspaper, both the killers arrived in the guise of lawyers. One of them is a woman. This woman helped in delivering the weapon. After the firing, the killer threw the weapon inside the courtroom before fleeing.
According to police spokesman Buddhika Manatunga, Ganemulla Sanjeewa was brought to the court premises from Boosa prison under tight security at around 9:50 am on February 19. Armed STF officers were not allowed inside the courtroom, so they stayed outside near the entrance.
Underworld don Sanjeewa was made to sit in the courtroom under police surveillance. Investigation has revealed that the killer had entered the courtroom before he arrived. His female partner was already present there. As soon as Sanjeewa was brought to the dock, the killer fired five rounds from a pistol at him. There was chaos in the courtroom as soon as the shot was fired. During this, the killer fled with his female partner. Sanjeewa was immediately rushed to Colombo National Hospital, where he died a short time later.
The Colombo Crime Division has launched an investigation into the murder in collaboration with the Peliyagoda and Nugegoda Criminal Investigation Divisions. Police records have about 60 murder cases registered against Ganemulla Sanjeewa. Apart from being involved in underworld activity, he has been involved in drug trafficking, extortion and illegal arms smuggling. He was arrested two years ago in 2023 at Bandaranaike International Airport with a fake passport. He arrived in Sri Lanka when deported from India.
According to investigating officer Western Province Senior Deputy Inspector General Sanjeewa Dharmaratne, the gunman responsible for the murder of Ganemulla Sanjeewa has been arrested by the Police Special Task Force in Pallaviya, Puttalam. He has been identified as former Sri Lankan Army commando Mohammed Asman.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
