‘Commando Samidu’ named as courthouse shooter

Police have identified the man who carried out the shooting inside the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday as Sameera Dilshan Kandanaarachchi  alias Commando Samidu.

He had used many aliases and had been involved in several previous contract killings, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today.

The suspect is a resident of Maharagama and a deserter who served in the commando unit of the army.

The driver of the van in which the suspects were transported to Hultsdorf was also arrested, he said. The van too has been seized. 

The suspect was about to flee the country by boat from Puttalm when he was arrested by the police, Mr. Wijepala said.

He added that the Police were in search of a woman who was an accomplice of the killer. 

Sanjeewa Kumara Saman Rathna, also known as Ganemulle Sanjeewa, a high-profile criminal, was shot dead inside the courthouse.  

Mr. Wijepala said there was no threat to national security due to ongoing gang-related violence and assured the government has taken necessary measures to safeguard citizens.