Policemen arrive at the chief magistrate’s court as a Sri Lankan man accused of being a top drug dealer was shot dead in Colombo on February 19, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AFP
A noted underworld figure, Ganemulle Sanjiwa, died after he was shot on Wednesday (February 19, 2025) morning within the court premises, sending shock waves through the judicial district of Hulftsdorp, a suburb of Colombo.
Noted criminal suspect Sanjiwa died after admission to the hospital, said Dr. Rukshan Bellana, director of the National Hospital.
Sanjiwa was brought for a hearing to the main magistrate’s court from the prison at the southern town of Boossa when he was shot at by a gunman, who was present at the hearing disguised as a lawyer, police said.
The revolver used for the murder was discovered within the court premises as a manhunt was launched to nab the assassin, police added.
The victim was rushed to the hospital by the police’s special task force that had earlier provided security escort to the prison van carrying him to the court.
However, he died soon after admission to the general hospital, the doctor said. The gunman fled the scene, police added.
Sanjiwa, who had fled the country after being hunted for criminal activities, was arrested at the airport upon his return from Nepal in September 2023.
Since then, he had been held under detention pending a number of cases against him.
Published – February 19, 2025 04:23 pm IST