• Police recover weapons evidence from burnt van

Two people were shot at and killed outside the southern entrance of the Devinuwara Sri Vishnu Temple, at approximately 11:45 p.m. last night (21).

Police reported that the attack took place when two unidentified gunmen, arriving in a van and opened fired on the duo riding a motorcycle.

The assassins have used a T-56 assault rifle and two 9mm firearms, discharging multiple rounds before escaping.

The victims had been returning home after attending a friend’s birthday party in the Kapugampura area of Devinuwara.

According to police, the motorcycle was rammed from behind by the van, after which the gunmen opened fire.

At the crime scene, police recovered 39 7.62×39mm bullet casings, two live rounds, two 9mm bullet casings, and two live 9 mm rounds.

Approximately 800 metres away, a van believed to belong to the attackers was found abandoned and burnt on a side road.

Inside the vehicle, police recovered a T-56 magazine and additional T-56 bullet casings.

The victims were identified as Yomesh Nadishan and Pasidu Tharuka, both aged 28 and residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.

An inquest was held at the scene in the early hours of today (22), overseen by Matara Additional Magistrate Malan Shiran Jayasuriya.