The suspected main gunman involved in the recent shooting and killing of a restaurant owner and his wife in Nagoda, Kalutara, has been arrested by the Kalutara Crime Division.  

The suspect was arrested while hiding at a house in Ranala, Kaduwela.

The shooting took place in front of a restaurant in Nagoda on 09 October 2026. The 54-year-old restaurant owner died in the incident, while his wife, who sustained injuries in the shooting, later succumbed to her injuries while being taken to hospital.

Two unidentified gunmen who arrived on a motorcycle had carried out the shooting before fleeing the scene. Police subsequently launched an investigation into the incident.

Investigations conducted using telephone analysis reports and CCTV footage revealed that the main gunman involved in the crime was staying in the Kaduwela area, enabling officers of the Kalutara Crime Division to track him down.  

Further investigations have revealed that the suspect had been hiding at the house of a relative of an organized crime gang member known as ‘Dippitigoda Shakthi.’

Police stated that the arrested suspect is a 32-year-old resident of Badulla.

It has been reported that the shooting had been carried out under the orders of an individual known as ‘Kalutara Naveen.’

Investigators have also uncovered that a T-56 assault rifle used in the murder had been provided to the shooter by another individual. Following the shooting, the firearm was handed over to another person near the Dodangoda Interchange on the Southern Expressway.

The arrested suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Kalutara Magistrate’s Court.