Hired Assassin Arrested for Plot to Kill 8-Member Weligama Hotel Family on 'Army Chooty's' Orders

 Weligama Headquarters Police have arrested a key suspect connected to a plan to simultaneously murder eight members of a family, including the owner of a well-known hotel in the Weligama area, his wife, children, and siblings. Police investigations have revealed that 'Army Chooty,' considered a southern underworld leader, had promised the suspect five and a half lakhs of rupees for carrying out this large-scale murder.

Interrogations revealed that the arrested suspect is a fisherman, and he needed this money to bring his wife back to Sri Lanka, as she was suffering while working as a domestic helper in a Middle Eastern country.

A senior police officer confirmed that since there was no other way to find money, the suspect contacted 'Army Chooty,' who is hiding in Dubai, through a friend and agreed to participate in this crime.

Based on information received by Weligama Police officers, the suspect was arrested in the Ibbawala area while in possession of 2400 milligrams of 'Ice' (crystal methamphetamine). Following his interrogation, a search of his house in Midigama, Kapuwatta area, led police to discover a foreign-made revolver, six live rounds of ammunition, a T-56 type magazine, fourteen rounds of ammunition, and a foreign-made live hand grenade.

It has also been confirmed that the suspect is one of two individuals who fled a house in the Tangalle area when officers from the Western North Crimes Division previously raided it and arrested a former army soldier with a T-56 firearm.

Police further stated that the plan to kill the hotel owner and the eight family members involved shooting and bombing, and that the suspect will be detained for seven days for further investigations under the instructions of the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Southern Province.