News

‘Sea Shark’ killing: Police suspect underworld link

Published

8 months ago

2026/01/12

Police have launched investigations into the fatal shooting of the owner of the Sea Shark tourist hotel on Marine Drive, Dehiwala, deploying three teams to examine several possible motives and underworld links.

The victim, a 57-year-old businessman known as ‘Sana Aiya,’ was shot at around 8.45 p.m. on Friday while at his hotel. He sustained critical gunshot injuries and died shortly after being admitted to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.

Police said the killing was being investigated from several angles, noting that the victim had previously faced allegations in connection with an attempted murder case, dating back to 2000, and had also been named as a suspect in a separate violent assault and shooting that left a man seriously injured.

One line of inquiry is focusing on a dispute involving a person identified as Shiran Basik, described by police as a leading drug trafficker, who had allegedly pressured the victim to sell a hotel property known as the Sea Park Hotel. The victim had reportedly refused, giving rise to hostility. Police are examining whether this dispute had any connection to the murder.

Investigators are also probing a possible link to a long-standing underworld feud between drug traffickers known as

Badovita Asanka and Chuwa Samantha. Police suspect the victim, who was said to have maintained close ties with Chuwa Samantha, may have been targeted as part of this rivalry.

Further investigations have revealed that the victim operated a car park near the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens on a block of land allegedly owned by imprisoned drug trafficker Wele Suda. Income from the car park had earlier been paid to Wele Suda’s wife, who was later imprisoned, and, thereafter, he stopped payment, leading to further animosity.

Police are additionally examining an altercation that occurred at the hotel a few days prior to the shooting involving several security forces members.

The investigations are being carried out under the supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Western Province Sajeewa Medawatta and Deputy Inspector General of Police for Western South Samantha Wijesekera.

by Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu ✍️

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Showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

45 mins ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 02 SEPTEMBER 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 02 September 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The atmospheric conditions are getting favorable for afternoon thundershowers in the Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces in the next few days.

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and in Mullaitivu district after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the Central hills, the North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Matale districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Anamaduwa, Moragollagama, Dambulla, Manampitiya and Valaichchenai, at about 12.10 noon today (02)

Published

50 mins ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (02) are Anamaduwa, Moragollagama, Dambulla, Manampitiya and Valaichchenai, at about 12.10 noon.

News

SC rejects petitioners’ request for full bench

Published

2 hours ago

2026/09/2

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a request that the petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution be heard by a full bench of the Supreme Court.

Rejecting the request, Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena said the consideration of the petitions would proceed before the five-judge bench.

Appearing on behalf of one of the petitioners, President’s Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran made the request when the petitions were called for hearing yesterday before a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Surasena.

President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, Ali Sabry, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, Eraj de Silva, Srinath Perera, Anura Meddegoda, and Maithri Gunaratne, along with other counsel appearing for several other petitioners, also made the same request.

Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, pointed out that the authority to determine the composition of a judicial bench rested with the Chief Justice. Refering to Article 132(3) of the Constitution, the Solicitor General argued that the discretion to determine the number of judges on a bench lay with the Chief Justice and that no other party had the authority to interfere in the matter.

Counsel including President’s Counsel Nigel Hatch, appearing for an intervening petitioner, also made submissions pointing out that the discretion to determine the composition of a bench rested with the Chief Justice.