Police release an AI photo to find the killer of the Sea Shark Hotel owner

Police are seeking public assistance to identify the main suspect involved in the shooting and killing of a restaurant owner in Dehiwala on January 09.

The shooting took place inside a hotel named Sea Shark, located at No. 59/06, Peters Lane, Marine Drive, within the Dehiwala police division, resulting in the death of the restaurant owner.

The Mount Lavinia Criminal Investigation Division has launched a comprehensive investigation into this murder. Based on information provided by eyewitnesses, investigating officers have taken steps to create a composite image of the suspect who carried out the shooting, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

Although the police stated that the murdered hotel owner had no prior life threats, information has been received that he was a close associate of 'Chuuwa Samantha,' who is considered a large-scale drug trafficker in the Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia areas. The ongoing conflict between the faction of Badowita Asanka and the faction of drug traffickers Kos Malli, Chuuwa Samantha, and Bodhiya Watte Avishka is suspected to be the immediate cause of this murder. Police sources indicate that 13 individuals from both sides have lost their lives due to this severe dispute between the two underworld gangs.

It has been revealed that the murdered 'Sana Mama' was previously involved in activities such as extortion, associating with former politicians of the Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, and later established connections with underworld member Chuuwa Samantha. Although the Municipal Council had granted him control over the car park in front of the Dehiwala Zoo, which was confiscated from the notorious drug trafficker Wele Suda, there are reports that a portion of the income from it was given to Wele Suda.

 The police are appealing to the public through the media to immediately inform them if anyone has any information regarding the person in the created photograph.