Akuregoda twin murders : 2nd gunman arrested

2026-02-25 - 04:17

A suspect believed to be the second gunman involved in the fatal shooting of a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda has been arrested, reports say. The arrest was made during a special operation carried out by the Monaragala Police. Accordingly, the suspect is currently being detained and further interrogated. Police have also launched further investigations using a facial recognition surveillance system to confirm whether the arrested individual is indeed the second gunman linked to the double murder. Previously, another gunman connected to the incident was recently arrested in the Ambalangoda area and produced before the court, where a 90-day detention order was obtained. Reports state that the relevant suspect is believed to be the individual who carried out the shooting using a T-56 type firearm, and information has revealed that he is an Army deserter. The shooting occurred on Feb. 13, when 02 gunmen opened fire on a lawyer and his wife while they were inside a car in the car park of a supermarket in Akuregoda. Investigations have also found that an individual who transported one of the gunmen to a lodging in Pannipitiya before the attack has fled to Thailand. Earlier, on Feb. 16 and 17, police arrested 03 individuals within the Kahathuduwa Police Division on charges of aiding and abetting the murder. Meanwhile, the police further stated that around 80% of the investigations into the incident have now been completed.