Courtroom killing: Shooter and Sewwandi visited Hulftsdorp two days prior to Sanjeewa’s murder

Two days before the killing of notorious criminal Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, alias Ganemulle Sanjeewa, two suspects, including alleged shooter Samindu Dilshan (known as Commando Samindu) and his accomplice, 25-year-old Ishara Sewwandi, had visited the Hulftsdorp court premises, police said.

According to a senior officer from the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), their visit was part of a plan for the murder.

Police investigations have revealed that a suspect, currently in remand custody from Mattakkulliya, assisted the couple by taking them around the court. He led them to various courtrooms and other locations. In return for his assistance, he received Rs 10,000 from the suspects.

Sewwandi is still on the run, and several special police teams are combing through different areas of the country to locate her.

The murder of Sanjeewa occurred on 19 February inside the Hulftsdorp No. 05 Magistrate’s Court. The investigations, led by the CCD, have revealed that the killing was a carefully orchestrated crime, with multiple conspirators involved in planning and executing the killing.

By Norman Palihawadane