Notorious underworld figure “Kosgoda Tharaka”, who was in police custody under detention orders, has been shot dead early this morning at Meerigama when he tried to attack police officers while recovering some weapons, police said.

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said the suspect was escorted to the Rendapola area in Meerigama this morning (13) for a special operation, while in custody of the Western Province North Crimes Division. 

However, an incident had occurred at that time in the Rendapola area and the police had used force in order to control the situation, he said.  

The 34-year-old suspect was shot and injured in police fire during the incident while he had succumbed to injuries on admission to the Meerigama Hospital.

A specials police team has been deployed in order to conduct investigations into the death, he said. 

The police spokesman added that Chief Inspector of Police has also been injured in the incident and has been admitted to the Wathupitiwala Hospital for treatment.

A special inquiry into the suspect’s death is to be carried out under the supervision of the Western Province North DIG and police are to report facts to the Attanagalla Magistrate to carry out a magistrate inquest. Thereafter an autopsy would be conducted, he said. 

Tharaka Perera Wijesekara alias “Kosgoda Tharaka” is the main suspect in the Matara jewellery store heist in 2018, which resulted in the death of a police officer following a shoot-out between criminals and the police.

He was arrested on June 22, 2018 after he had been admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital with gunshot wounds, along with two more gang members, following the shootout with police during an armed robbery at a jewellery shop in Matara.

The leader of an organized criminal gang, Kosgoda Tharaka had been wanted in connection with at least 07 murders, 21 robberies and several other crimes prior to his arrest.