Divulapitiya shootout: PC member and 6 others remanded

The seven suspects arrested following the shootout with STF personnel in Divulapitiya yesterday, including UNP Western Provincial Council member Randeer Rodrigo, have been remanded until November 07 by the Minuwangoda Magistrate’s Court. 

Meanwhile the provincial councilor’s Indian wife, Harjot Kaur, who was also arrested yesterday, has been remanded until October 31 by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court.  

One person was killed while seven other suspects were arrested following a shootout between Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel and the group of men in the Henpitagedara area in Divulapitiya.

Acting on information received that a gang of criminals were loitering near the school in Henpitagedara on the Ballapana-Dunagaha Road, the STF carried out a special raid which had resulted in the shootout. 

When a team of STF personnel arrived at the location in question, two suspects had been on the road while another 6 were in a van, the police spokesman’s office said. 

One of the suspects on the road had pulled out a pistol and opened fire at the STF personnel who returned fire, injuring the shooter. He was admitted to the Divulapitiya Hospital in critical condition, however succumbed to injuries afterwards. 

The deceased was identified as Aluthapola Cooray, a former soldier attached to the Sri Lanka Navy. 

The remaining 7 suspects have been taken into custody along with the van in question, a hand grenade and 3 pistols of which one is said to be a toy pistol. 

It was later uncovered that one of the arrested suspects is UNP Western Provincial Council member Randeer Rodrigo.

Police officials later found several rounds of live ammunition and a bullet-proof vest at the residence of the UNP Provincial Councilor. 

Police media spokesperson stated that 115 rounds of live ammunition were confiscated by Police officials who searched the residence while the wife of Randeer Rodrigo was also been taken into custody.