Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga said that a woman had assisted the gunman involved in this morning’s shooting at the Hulftsdorp court complex, where a criminal was fatally shot.
Five teams, led by the Colombo Crimes Division and assisted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), are conducting investigations into the incident, Manatunga said during a special media briefing.
“We are confident of a quick arrest of the suspects,” the Police Media Spokesperson said.
“Both suspects have been identified, and measures have been taken to prevent them from leaving the country. The woman has been identified as having links to drug trafficking,” Manatunga said.
The gunman, disguised as a lawyer, entered the premises undetected, Police said, while the woman who assisted him was also dressed as a lawyer, allowing both to evade security checks.
The victim, Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne, was shot while taking the witness stand, by the gunman who approached him.
The gunman had smuggled the weapon concealed inside a Code of Criminal Procedure book. “The gunman first entered the court without a weapon, and the woman later handed him the concealed firearm,” he said.
Questions have been raised over the lapse in security and court safety following the shooting reported.
There are no specific directives exempting lawyers or judges from body or security checks, Manatung also said.
“Discussions will be held with the Bar Association and the Judicial Services Commission to implement security screenings for all individuals in the future,” Manatunga said responding to concerns about security lapses. (Newswire)