Underworld behind the murder of fish businessman Delight Mudalali

On the 21st of last month, a 56-year-old father of five, Cyril Hendavitharana, also known as 'Delight Mudalali', residing on Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara, was killed in a broad daylight shooting in front of a supermarket in Devinuwara town, Matara. He, a fish businessman, was attacked while driving his three-wheeler from Kataragama towards Matara on the Matara-Kataragama main road after dropping his child off at a tuition class.

According to CCTV footage, two suspects in a white car parked near the supermarket suddenly approached the three-wheeler and carried out the shooting. Following this attack, carried out with a 9mm pistol, the businessman fell onto the road, and the out-of-control three-wheeler reversed and crashed into an electricity pole, coming to a halt. Although residents collectively took the injured man to Matara General Hospital in the same three-wheeler, the police confirmed that he had already passed away by then.

Although police roadblocks had been placed at Rassandeniya Junction, the entrance to Devinuwara, and Kapugama area, the exit point, due to recent shootings in the Devinuwara area, it is noteworthy that this murder occurred midway between these two locations. Road camera footage revealed that after the shooting, the suspects traveled approximately 20 kilometers within a short period of about 25 minutes, passing the Malimbada area. Subsequently, they abandoned their car on a deserted road in the Pahuranwila area of Akuressa, made an unsuccessful attempt to set it on fire, and fled in another vehicle. Investigators also found three cartridges in the car, which was registered under the name of a woman from Anuradhapura.

Police reports indicate that the deceased, Delight Mudalali, had close ties with a former underworld gang member named Unakuruwe Shantha, and consequently, he had faced drug charges. Previously, the Anti-Narcotics Bureau had detained and questioned him regarding the disappearance of 100 kilograms of heroin, allegedly brought to Devinuwara through an international drug network. However, as the drugs could not be found, he was acquitted of that charge. He had also been imprisoned for about 7 months on a charge of possessing a repeater-type firearm. Furthermore, in 2005, he successfully contested for the Devinuwara Pradeshiya Sabha from the United National Party, securing over 2,000 preferential votes.

This businessman had previously survived two shooting attacks by opposing parties. He had complained to the police and the Victims Protection Division about the death threats he faced, and accordingly, the police had placed a police patrol logbook near his house gate and advised him to be cautious. He was the owner of a coastal hotel and several multi-day fishing trawlers, but it is also mentioned that he later sold those vessels and sent his three sons to Japan and Dubai for their future.

Although it has not yet been definitively confirmed who carried out this organized murder, the police strongly suspect that it may have been orchestrated by an underworld member connected to the drug network known as 'Devinuwara Dehibale Malli', who is currently abroad. The Matara Police Superintendent's office has deployed six special police teams to apprehend the suspects, and investigations are currently underway from several angles under the instructions of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Kithsiri Jayalath, who is in charge of the Southern Province.