Two individuals were killed in a shooting incident on Sinhasana Road, in front of the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya, at around 11:45 p.m. last night (21), according to police.

It is reported that two unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire on two youths riding a motorcycle using a T-56 assault rifle and two 9 mm firearms before fleeing the scene.

According to police, the two victims had attended a birthday party for a friend at a residence in the Kapugampura area of Devinuwara.

While returning home, their motorcycle was struck from behind by a van, after which the assailants opened fire on them, said police.

At the scene of the shooting, police recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, two T-56 rounds of live ammunition, two 9 mm bullet casings, and two 9mm live ammunition.

Additionally, a van suspected to have been used by the shooters was found abandoned and set on fire on a side road about 800 meters from the crime scene.

Inside the burnt vehicle, police discovered a T-56 magazine and additional T-56 bullet casings.

The two deceased victims were identified as Yomesh Nadishan and Pasidu Tharuka, both 28 years old and residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.

The Magistrate’s inquest at the scene of the shooting was conducted by Matara Additional Magistrate Malan Shiran Jayasuriya in the early hours of today (22).