A Sri Lankan gentleman, suspected of leading a drug syndicate, met his demise through a fatal shooting on the premises of a courthouse in Colombo. The individual in question, Ganemulla Sanjeewa, a notorious underworld personality, was gunned down at close range on a Wednesday while standing in the dock of the Colombo Hulftsdorp Court complex, seeking bail. Sanjeewa had been escorted to the court under heavy guard by elite Special Task Force commandos, who then handed him over to prison officials at the entrance.
According to Senior Police Superintendent Buddhika Manathunga, the assailant had disguised himself as a lawyer and proceeded to discharge a firearm within the court chamber before swiftly making an exit. The weapon used in the attack was abandoned on the courtroom floor. Mr. Manathunga stated, “The perpetrator managed to flee the scene immediately following the assault. Multiple police units are actively engaged in the investigation and pursuit of the suspect.”
Upon sustaining critical wounds, Sanjeewa was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital, where he was subsequently declared deceased. This violent act occurs within a backdrop of escalating gang-related conflicts across Sri Lanka, with police records indicating that nine individuals have already lost their lives this year in shootings attributed to gang rivalries.
Sanjeewa was appearing in court in connection with a pending legal matter. Authorities disclosed that he had a history of evading law enforcement and was wanted for involvement in various criminal activities. Notably, on September 13, 2023, Sanjeewa was apprehended at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake upon his return from Nepal, allegedly found in possession of a forged passport at the time of arrest. It is believed that Sanjeewa clandestinely entered India by boat, subsequently fleeing to Nepal, and then returning to Sri Lanka after an Interpol red notice was issued for his capture.
Criticism has been leveled at the police force following this incident, with many questioning how an armed attacker managed to gain entry to the court premises without detection. Vindika Weerasinghe, a postgraduate scholar at the University of Colombo, expressed, “This event underscores a significant security breach on the part of the police responsible for safeguarding the suspect and ensuring the security of the court premises. How was an armed assailant able to enter unchecked? Merely attributing it to a disguise is insufficient – every individual should have undergone screening. Demanding that the police investigate their own oversight is wholly unacceptable.”
