Suspect arrested over temple shooting that killed a Buddhist monk
February 8, 2024 09:22 am
A man has been arrested on suspicion of his involvement in the killing of a Buddhist monk at a temple in the Malwathuhiripitiya area last month.
The arrest was made by the Western/North Crimes Division during a late-night operation conducted yesterday. The suspect is reportedly a resident of Mullegama in Homagama.
The T-56 rifle supposedly used by the perpetrators was recovered from the possession of the 30-year-old suspect, in addition to a live grenade, pistol, 3 magazines, 15 grams of heroin, 19 rounds of live ammunition, a motorcycle with a fake registration plate, remote switch of the car used in the shooting and a mobile phone.
Preliminary investigations revealed that he was directly involved in multiple criminal activities and drug syndicates run by two members of organized criminal gangs, currently living abroad.
A group of four assailants, who had arrived in a car, shot dead a Buddhist monk inside a temple in the Malwathuhiripitiya area of Gampaha in the early hours of January 23.
The 45-year-old Buddhist monk, Ven. Kalapaluwawe Dhammarathana Thero, who sustained critical injuries in the incident, had been rushed to the Gampaha Hospital. But he later succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment.
