Police have obtained a 72-hour detention order against alleged underworld associate Ousmand Gunasekara, widely known as “Gampaha Ousmand”, over accusations linked to the high-profile assassination of organised criminal figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa.
According to Police Spokesman’s Office, the 69-year-old suspect was arrested by officers attached to the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) on allegations of aiding and abetting the murder as well as supplying firearms allegedly used in the deadly attack.
Investigators stated that the suspect was taken into custody on the night of May 13 in the Sri Bodhi Road area of Gampaha after authorities gathered information from other suspects currently under detention in connection with the ongoing murder investigation.
Police further revealed that ongoing investigations have uncovered alleged links between the assassination plot and organised criminal networks believed to be operating from overseas locations. Authorities claim that Ousmand Gunasekara played a significant role by allegedly supplying weapons required to carry out the killing.
During the arrest operation, police reportedly recovered a foreign-manufactured repeater shotgun, two magazines, and 10 rounds of ammunition from the suspect’s possession. The weapons are expected to undergo further forensic examinations as part of the investigation.
The murder of underworld figure Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, also known as “Ganemulla Sanjeewa”, shocked the country earlier this year due to the brazen nature of the attack. He was shot dead inside Colombo Magistrate’s Court No. 05 at the Aluthkade Court Complex on February 19, 2025.
According to investigators, the gunman had allegedly disguised himself as a lawyer before opening fire while the suspect was being escorted to court by prison officials. The incident raised major concerns regarding courthouse security, organised crime influence, and the growing sophistication of underworld operations in Sri Lanka.
For Sri Lanka, the assassination highlighted the increasing challenge faced by law enforcement authorities in controlling organised criminal networks that operate both locally and internationally. In recent months, police and intelligence units have intensified crackdowns on underworld groups, narcotics trafficking networks, and contract killings linked to overseas criminal operations.
Security analysts note that the involvement of foreign-based criminal connections in local crimes has become an increasing concern for Sri Lankan authorities. International law enforcement cooperation and intelligence-sharing have therefore become critical parts of ongoing investigations into organised crime activities.
The arrest of “Gampaha Ousmand” is being viewed as another major development in the broader investigation into the Ganemulla Sanjeewa assassination, which remains one of the country’s most closely watched criminal cases this year.
Meanwhile, police say further interrogations are continuing under the detention order, and additional arrests could follow depending on the evidence uncovered during investigations. Authorities are also expected to continue tracing financial links, weapons suppliers, and overseas criminal connections related to the murder plot.
What happens next will depend on the findings of the ongoing CCD investigations and future court proceedings connected to the case. Law enforcement officials say the probe remains active and several leads are still being pursued.
