First shooting of 2026: One killed, two injured in Kaduwela

The first shooting incident reported in 2026 was reported last night (January 01) from the Navagamuwa area of Kaduwela. 

One person was killed and two others were seriously injured in the attack. The crime occurred between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM while three youths, residents of a rented house on Korathota Manikaagara Road in Navagamuwa, were holding a liquor party to celebrate the New Year. Police state that an armed group, who arrived on a motorcycle and a trishaw, suddenly broke into the house, shot the youths with pistols, and fled.

A twenty-year-old youth, a resident of the Borella area, died on the spot due to the shooting. The two seriously injured youths, residents of Ambalangoda and Dematagoda areas, were initially admitted to the Athurugiriya Oruwala Divisional Hospital and later transferred to Homagama Base Hospital for further treatment. According to hospital sources, four bullets are lodged in the body of one injured person, and one bullet in the body of the other.

During police investigations at the scene, about fifteen empty bullet casings were found. According to information revealed during preliminary investigations, these three youths had rented the house and moved in about one and a half months ago. Police further suspect that this shooting may have been carried out by "Wanathe Chathu's" party as revenge for a sharp weapon attack on his associate about one and a half months ago. Navagamuwa Police and the Nugegoda Criminal Investigation Division are jointly conducting extensive investigations into the incident.