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Ishara, mastermind behind Ganemulla Sanjeewa shooting still at large, 14 teams launch search
View(s):By Damith Wickramasekara and Sandun Jayawardana
Fourteen special police teams are combing through different parts of the country for Ishara Sewwandi, the 25-year-old woman suspected to be the mastermind of the murder of alleged organised criminal and drug trafficker Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne alias “Ganemulla Sanjeewa.”
The 14 teams include two from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), which is spearheading the investigation into Sanjeewa’s shooting at the Aluthkade No. 05 Magistrate’s Court on February 19, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala told the Sunday Times.
The day of the shooting at the Aluthkade No. 05 Magistrate’s Court. Pix by Indika Handuwala
While Sewwandi is believed to be the mastermind in Sri Lanka, the crime was planned from Dubai. As such, a special police team has also been dispatched to Dubai to track down these planners, Mr Watagala said. “We hope the culprits can be arrested and brought back soon due to the combined efforts of these officers and the Dubai Police,” the deputy minister said.
Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent (SSP) Buddhika Manatunga meanwhile, said police had information that Sewwandi had so far been unable to flee abroad and is still hiding in the country. She remains the most wanted female suspect in the country at present, with police offering a reward of Rs. 1 million for information leading to her arrest.
Ten other suspects including the alleged shooter Samindu Dilshan alias “Commando Samindu,” two police constables as well as Sewwandi’s mother and younger brother have so far been arrested in connection with the crime and are being held and questioned under detention orders.
Police investigations have revealed that Sewwandi had commenced a relationship with the alleged shooter Samindu Dilshan since November last year. He was heavily addicted to ‘Ice’ and she had supplied the drugs to him, roping him in the process to take part in the killing, investigators say. Police believe most organised criminal groups no longer have many expert gunmen in their employ. Maintaining shooters has become extremely costly for these gangs since they have to be protected and maintained. As such, criminal gangs have now taken to employing former soldiers and deserters such as Samindu, who are good shooters, on contract basis, a senior police officer said. Some of them maybe addicted to drugs such as ‘Ice,’ and the gangs also supply the drugs to these shooters. “Gunmen are now being hired on contract basis, with them being well-paid for every successful hit. They aren’t members of these gangs, but are simply contract killers, who are paid for a job, but are then let go afterwards,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, a special intelligence operation has also been launched to identify and arrest police officers who aided and abetted the murder of “Ganemulla Sanjeewa” and other recent murders linked to criminal gang activity. This is after several police officers were arrested for aiding and abetting some of these crimes. Investigators will probe whether any officers shared information with criminal gangs, or if they obtained money or other privileges to supply information or other assistance, the officer further said.
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