Akurana Update: 'Pannipitiye Janaka', who provided shelter to the gunmen, arrested

In connection with the shooting and killing of lawyer Gayan Buddhika Mallawaarachchi and his wife in a supermarket car park near the Akuregoda Army Headquarters, 'Pannipitiye Janaka,' who is said to have provided lodging facilities to the shooters, was arrested on suspicion by the Western South Criminal Investigation Division on the night of the 22nd. Police have revealed that he is connected to the 'Ice' drug network of 'Malwane Tutu,' who has fled to Dubai.

He had reserved two hotel rooms in the Kottawa and Pannipitiya areas for the two underworld gunmen who came to commit the murder.

One of the gunmen who came for this double murder is the former army soldier known by the alias 'Baddegama Kalu,' who was previously arrested at a cinnamon land in the Delduwa area of Ambalangoda. He arrived at the Pannipitiya hotel three days before the crime, while the other underworld gunman, a resident of the Ratnapura area, arrived at the Kottawa hotel two days prior. These two gunmen, who had never met before, stayed in their hotel rooms and discussed the murder plan over the phone. Investigations have revealed that Baddegama Kalu, who is severely addicted to 'Ice' drugs, used drugs continuously during his three days at the hotel, as well as shortly before committing the crime.

This murder contract was given by Malwane Tutu and Karandeniye Sudda. The deceased lawyer Buddhika had previously acted as Karandeniye Sudda's lawyer, and his sudden decision to represent the underworld leader known as 'Loku Pati' later became the main reason for this murder. This crime was orchestrated based on the suspicion that the lawyer would reveal all of Sudda's secrets to Loku Pati. Furthermore, Karandeniye Sudda had instructed Baddegama Kalu that since the lawyer's wife also knew these secrets, she should also be killed out of fear that information would be revealed if her life was spared, and that anyone else in the car should also be eliminated.

Both Baddegama Kalu, who committed the crime, and Karandeniye Sudda, who orchestrated it, had served in the army. A strong friendship developed between them when Sudda was in remand prison for the murder of 'Hithahonda Dosthara' (Good-hearted Doctor) in Karandeniya, and Kalu was also detained there. This relationship continued even after Karandeniye Sudda fled to Dubai. When Baddegama Kalu was without money for his daughter's coming-of-age ceremony, Karandeniye Sudda gave him one and a half lakhs of rupees. Kalu accepted this contract, responding to Sudda's request that the money did not need to be returned and instead asking for a favor, stating that he would never forget that help.

As planned, Baddegama Kalu, armed with a T-56 automatic firearm, and the other gunman, carrying a pistol, suddenly opened fire on the car carrying the lawyer and his wife, killing both of them. Afterwards, Baddegama Kalu called Karandeniye Sudda and Malwane Tutu, informing them that both had been eliminated and that no one else was in the vehicle. Immediately, Sudda sent Kalu one lakh rupees and instructed him to hide somewhere without being caught by the police, promising to send more money in the future, which has now been revealed during police interrogations.