Two more suspects in Beliatte multiple killings arrested on Thursday

The Police Special Task Force (STF) arrested two more suspects in connection with the recent Beliatte multiple killings, at Wanchawala and Megalle in Galle.According to investigators the two men, aged 25 and 35, are involved in the drug trade and they had in their possession 9.3 grams of heroin at the time of arrest.

They had allegedly confessed to having been contracted by Uragaha Michael, an associate of Kosgoda Sujee to assassinate Saman Perera, the leader of Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya.

On 22 January 2024, five persons, including Perera, were shot dead in Beliatte while they were on their way to appear in the High Court.

The suspected mastermind, Saman Kumara, was arrested within 24-hours and the vehicle used by the assailants was found near Vidyaloka Pirivena, Galle, on Wednesday (24).

Hakmana police on Thursday took into custody a motorcycle and a van in connection with the shooting.

The motorcycle had been used to dispose of the two T-56 weapons used to carry out the attack, police said. The police suspect that the van was used to transport the attackers out of the area after the multiple killings.

The killings were ordered by Kosgoda Sujee, one of the underworld leaders from the South to avenge the killing of several of his close relatives, according to the police. Sujee is hiding in Dubai.

Perera alias Royal Beach Saman was allegedly involved in the murder of the brother and an uncle of Sujee in 2004. In 2016, another relative of Sujee was killed. On 05 June 2022 Asela Sampath, an associate of Sujee, was killed in the Kudawella Fisheries Harbour. Perera is believed to have been involved in that incident, as well.Sujee had previously tried to kill Perera several times without success, police said.