By Hemantha Randunu

The body of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, who was gunned down inside a Hulftsdorp Magistrate Court on Wednesday, was identified Thursday (20) at the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer’s office by his mother and elder sister, a senior officer from the Keselwatta Police told The Island.

Following the post-mortem examination, his mother took the body to the Jayaratne Funeral Parlour, where it was kept pending final rites at the Borella Cemetery.

Investigations have revealed that Sanjeewa was killed on the orders of an underworld leader, known as Kehelbaddara Padme, who is currently in hiding in Dubai. The killing was carried out by an assassin hired for Rs. 150 million, though it is reported that he had received only an advance payment of Rs. 2 million. Further inquiries indicate that the assassin had been using multiple aliases, including a previously reported Muslim name, which has now been confirmed as false.

Two days before the attack, the assassin reportedly disguised himself as a lawyer and visited Hulftsdorp Magistrate Courtroom No. 05 to observe and plan the execution of the attack.

Alongside him, a woman named Ishara Sewwandi, a known drug trafficker who also posed as a lawyer, visited the court to assess how the murder would be carried out, police investigations have revealed.

Further inquiries indicate that Kehelbaddara Padme’s father, Kehelbaddara Neville, was shot dead in 2018 on the orders of Ganemulle Sanjeewa. Police suspect Sanjeewa’s murder was an act of revenge.

Following the assassination, the assassin fled by a waiting van to the Kalpitiya area, from where he was to be smuggled to India by boat, as planned by Padme.

Ishara Sewwandi, the 25-year-old woman who assisted the assassin, and the assassin himself, are allegedly heavy users of crystal meth (ice), according to police. However, several other analysts on social media pointed out that the careful planning, and the calm execution of the plan do not seem to be indicative of the behaviour of drug addicts.

Investigations have also revealed that the pair had stayed at a hotel in Maradana the day before the attack.

Police have discovered that Kehelbaddara Padme coordinated the murder plot over the phone from Dubai, communicating with the assassin for nearly two weeks. Fake lawyer identification cards were created on Padme’s instructions to allow the assassin and Sewwandi to pose as legal professionals. Authorities are currently investigating those responsible for forging those IDs.

Police media spokesperson and Attorney-at-Law Buddhika Manatunga stated that the assassin operated under multiple aliases, including Mohammed Sherifdeen and Samidu Dilshan Widumanga Kadanaarachchi. The fake lawyer ID he used bore the name Kodikara Kasun Prabath Nishshanka.

The suspect is reportedly a resident of Maharagama and is believed to be responsible for several other murders. Investigations are ongoing into his alleged involvement in additional killings.

Meanwhile, police are examining messages exchanged via the mobile phone used by the shooter in Sanjeewa’s murder. It has also been discovered that someone had visited the hotel where the shooter was staying and handed him a fake lawyer ID with his photograph.

Further inquiries have revealed that after the shooting, the suspect purchased a white outfit from a shop in Nugegoda and discarded the lawyer’s robe he had been wearing in Kochchikade.

Kehelbaddara Padme has reportedly orchestrated a similar attack from overseas in the past.

On the morning of the 19th, Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, also known as Ganemulle Sanjeewa, an underworld gang leader, was shot dead inside Courtroom No. 5 at Hulftsdorp.

His post-mortem examination was conducted at the Colombo National Hospital mortuary on the 20th, where forensic experts found multiple bullet wounds on his body, prompting them to conduct a CT scan.

Following the autopsy, the body was to be handed over to Sanjeewa’s wife, according to Ganemulla Police.

The body was temporarily placed at Jayaratne Funeral Parlour in Borella before family members and others paid their final respects.