The incident highlights ongoing gang rivalries and the need for enhanced courtroom security measures.
**Deadly Courtroom Shooting Raises Security Concerns in Sri Lanka**
**Deadly Courtroom Shooting Raises Security Concerns in Sri Lanka**
A gang leader is shot dead in a courthouse by a man posing as a lawyer, prompting a crackdown on gang violence and courthouse security reviews.
A suspected gang leader, Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne, was killed in a shocking courtroom shooting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, by an assailant disguised as a lawyer. Police reported that the gunman used a revolver concealed within a hollowed-out book, smuggled into the courthouse by a female accomplice who remains at large.
Samararathne, known in the underworld as Ganemulle Sanjeewa, was facing multiple murder charges and had been in police custody since September 2023. On the day of the shooting, he was escorted to the courthouse with a heavy police presence, including a dozen officers. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The assailant escaped the scene but was soon apprehended by law enforcement. His identity has been inconsistent across various reports, suggesting he may have used multiple aliases. Meanwhile, the woman involved, identified as 25-year-old Pinpura Dewage Ishara Sewwandi, is still at large. Authorities have issued a public notice offering a reward for tips leading to her capture and have arrested a police officer and a van driver for allegedly aiding in the crime.
The alarming incident drew attention to the persistent problem of gang violence in Sri Lanka, with ongoing discussions among lawmakers about necessary responses. A member of the opposition labeled gang activity as a "major security issue," prompting Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa to reaffirm the government's commitment to tackling these criminal organizations.
In light of the shooting, there are renewed calls for tighter security at courthouses, with the justice minister announcing that armed guards will now accompany specific high-risk individuals in court, a noted change from previous protocols. Recent statistics indicate that nine fatalities have been reported in gang-related shootings in the country this year alone, underscoring the urgency of addressing this escalating problem.
