Manoj Udayanga also shot former Prison Superintendent Siridath Dhammika before lawyer Mallawarachchi.

A homeowner who provided accommodation for the main shooter involved in the incident where a lawyer and his wife were shot dead in the Akuregoda area to hide, was arrested by the police this afternoon (26). During an operation conducted by Monaragala Police, the suspect was apprehended at a house located in the Diyapola area, Nannapurawa, Medagama, and he is to be handed over to the Western South Crimes Division for further investigations.

The Western South Crimes Division has taken steps to detain and question Manoj Udayanga, the 39-year-old main shooter residing in the Kananke area, who was arrested yesterday in Monaragala in connection with this double murder, for a period of 72 hours. During the interrogations, he revealed a lot of information about this crime. It was also revealed during investigations that since the murdered lawyer had appeared for two of his cases in the past, when they arrived in Akuregoda, the suspect told the other shooter who accompanied him, 'Buddika knows me because he appeared for my two cases.'

He confessed that they then stopped their vehicle by the side, went close to the lawyer, and carried out the shooting. Furthermore, the suspect revealed that he also carried out the murder of Mr. Siridath Dhammika, the former Superintendent of Boossa Prison. He further stated that he went with another shooter named 'Lala' on the instructions of 'Karandeniye Sudda' and committed that murder, and that he was the one who fired two shots at Mr. Dhammika. He has also admitted his involvement in another triple murder that occurred in the Southern Province. Following the incident where Mr. Siridath Dhammika Akmeemana, the former Superintendent of Boossa Prison, was shot dead at his home in Talagahapitiya on the evening of March 13, 2025, police investigations were vigorously pursued, and a 31-year-old resident of Kuliwatta, Ambalangoda, had also been arrested previously.

Meanwhile, several CCTV footage clips showing the suspect shooter arriving at a lodge in the Pannipitiya area before carrying out the attack have also been received by security forces. In these clips, it can be clearly seen how a person named 'Janaka,' who was previously arrested by the police, brings the suspect to that lodge.