Police have arrested five suspects, including a woman, in connection with the shooting death of 54-year-old Mohamed Asmin Moideen, who is believed to be a close relative of notorious organized criminal figure ‘Kanjipani Imran’.  

The shooting took place at around 1.20 p.m. on August 10 on Sri Sangharaja Mawatha in Maligawatta, within the Kotahena Police Division.

Police suspect that the killing was orchestrated by another organized criminal figure known as ‘Kudu Anju’, who is currently believed to be residing in France.

The suspects were arrested yesterday (17) by officers from the Colombo North Divisional Criminal Investigation Unit based on information received during investigations into the murder, police stated.

Two of the suspects, a 21-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, both residents of Colombo 15, were arrested with 25 grams and 840 milligrams of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine) and handed over to the Kotahena Police.

The other three suspects, aged 19, 25 and 28, were arrested with 12 grams and 380 milligrams of ‘Ice’ and a motorcycle allegedly used in the murder.

Police said the three suspects are residents of Mattakkuliya, Dompe and Mulleriyawa.

The victim, who owned a hardware store on Sri Sangharaja Mawatha, was targeted by two individuals who arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire before fleeing the scene.  

The victim was rushed to the Colombo National Hospital with gunshot injuries but later succumbed to his injuries.

Police suspect that the killing may have been carried out in retaliation for the recent murder of a close associate of ‘Kudu Anju’ in the Ratmalana area.