Police have uncovered several new details surrounding the hand grenade attack on a house in Dehiwala that claimed the lives of two innocent children.
Investigators suspect the attack was linked to a dispute between factions associated with organized criminals ‘Badowita Asanka’ and ‘Kudu Avishka’.
Police have obtained telephone data belonging to the suspect who hurled the grenade and the driver of the three-wheeler used in the attack. CCTV footage has also been recovered, showing the suspects leaving the Nedimala area in a three-wheeler before carrying out the attack.
According to police, the attack is believed to have been directed by the uncle and an associate of a criminal known as ‘Kos Malli’, who is reportedly a close associate of ‘Kudu Avishka’.
The main suspect, a resident of Wanarathana Place in Dehiwala, is believed to be the principal contract killer operating for Avishka's faction.
Police also suspect him of involvement in several recent shootings in the Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia areas.
Investigations are being conducted by several police teams under the direct supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Ranmal Kodithuwakku and the direction of Western Province South Deputy Inspector General of Police Samantha Wijesekara.
Three-wheeler linked to attack traced
Police have arrested two people in connection with the three-wheeler used in the attack.
One of the suspects is believed to have taken the vehicle to a garage to have its colour changed, while the 36-year-old garage owner was also arrested.
Investigators have established that the three-wheeler had allegedly been stolen from Nagoda, Kalutara before being taken to a garage in Nedimala, Dehiwala, where its colour was changed.
Police have also identified the man suspected of hurling the grenade and the driver of the three-wheeler. Both are believed to have fled the area and are currently being sought.
The suspected grenade thrower is a 26-year-old resident of the Manthrimulla area in Attidiya.
Investigators have further linked him to other criminal activities, including allegedly providing accommodation to gunmen involved in an attempted attack on the father of an organized criminal known as ‘Sando’, who had worked as a security guard at the Mount Lavinia public cemetery.
He is also suspected of involvement in the killing of an associate of an underworld figure known as ‘Kudu Anju’ on August 1.
Attack allegedly targeted wrong house
Investigators suspect the grenade may have been hurled at the wrong house, according to information received by police.
The attack took place in the early hours of September 11 at a residence on Sirisangabo Mawatha in Dehiwala.
Two brothers, aged 11 and 17 were killed in the blast.
Their father, who supported the family by working as a three-wheeler driver, suffered severe injuries to one of his legs in the attack. His leg reportedly had to be amputated.
He is now recovering in hospital.
UN representative expresses shock
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche expressed his sorrow over the deaths in a post on X.
He said the killing of the two children was deeply distressing and stressed that no child should ever become a victim of violence.
He also called for those responsible to be held accountable and expressed his condolences to the children's family.
The final rites of the two brothers were held today at the Mount Lavinia public cemetery, as relatives and members of the community mourned their untimely deaths.
