News
Underworld figure ‘Middeniye Kajja’ and daughter shot dead in contract killing
By Hemanta Randunu
A notorious underworld figure, Aruna Widanagamage alias Middeniye Kajja, and his six-year-old daughter, were shot dead, on Tuesday (18) night, by contract killers at Kadewatta Junction in Middeniya, Tangalle. Initial police investigations indicate that the killing was carried out by a gang operating in the southern region.
Widanagamage’s eight-year-old son was also seriously injured in the attack and is currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of the Embilipitiya Hospital.
Widanagamage was travelling on a motorcycle, with his three children, after dropping off his eldest child at a friend’s house. While heading towards another location, with his remaining two children, two hired gunmen on a motorcycle followed and ambushed them at around 10.15 PM, firing shots from a T-56 assault rifle.
Widanagamage died at the scene, while his six-year-old daughter succumbed to her injuries after being admitted to the Tangalle Hospital. His eight-year-old son remains under intensive care with severe injuries.
Police records indicate that Widanagamage was involved in numerous criminal activities across Tangalle, Middeniya, Karandeniya, Meegahama, and Medamulana, including extortion, contract killings, illegal possession of weapons, and armed robberies. His primary source of income was said to be gambling on ‘buru’, a local card game. Police investigations have revealed that on the night of the attack, he had left his children at a friend’s house and was on his way to a gambling den.
In 2024, he was involved in a robbery in Weeraketiya, where he and his accomplices, armed with weapons, stormed a gambling establishment, terrorised those present, and robbed cash. He had been imprisoned for this crime but was released on bail a few months ago.
Widanagamage, separated from his wife, was living with his three children at the time of his death.
According to police records, he had been implicated in multiple criminal cases, including a 2014 house robbery in Middeniya, an extortion case involving death threats in Embilipitiya in 2019, robbing a jeep in Beliatta and three-wheeler in Weeraketiya. He had also been arrested in possession of a T-56 firearm and 30 live bullets in 2019 and was further accused of robbing a bus and stealing money from gambling establishments in 2021.
No suspects have been arrested in connection with the double homicide of Widanagamage and his daughter. However, five special police teams have been assigned to investigate the case, under the direct supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Kithsiri Jayalath and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nishantha Soysa in the Southern Province.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours commencing at 1200hrs today [08]
Accordingly
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy District, Wilgamuwa in the Matale District, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya District.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Meegahakiwula, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Lunugala, Badulla, Passara, Uva Paranagama and Hali_Ela in the Badulla District, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale District, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya District.
Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, Department of Meteorology at 10.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 for the period until 10.30 a.m. 09 January 2026
The depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka has intensified into a deep depression and is centered near latitude 5.4°N and longitude 85.3°E, about 420 km southeast of Pottuvil at 05.30 a.m. today (08th). The above system is currently (10:00 a.m.) located about 300 km southeast of Pottuvil.
It is very likely to move west-northwestwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal and cross the Sri Lanka coast between Hambantota and Kalmunai between 5.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. on Friday [9th January 2026].
Hence, showery, and windy condition over the island, particularly in the Northern, NorthCentral, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance from today (08th).
For the Land area:
DAMAGE EXPECTED:
• Damage to huts, temporary shelters and light structures
• Destroy the roof tops/ sheets etc.
• Damage to power and communication lines.
• Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees.
• Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards.
• Damage to harbor yachts
• Flash flood
• Sea water inundation in low lying areas in the near coast.
Action suggested for the Land area:
• Coastal hutment dwellers are advised to move to safer places. Other people in the affected areas to remain indoors.
• People living in hilly areas (particularly landslide prone areas) and low lying areas in river basins are requested to be vigilant.
• Drivers and people using roads in the hilly areas are requested to be vigilant.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• General public is requested to be vigilant regarding impending extreme weather situation.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
• Requested to be attentive about future advisories issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.
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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.
Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.
Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
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