• Father, 6-yr.-old daughter and 9-yr.-old son die after group opens fire on a motorcycle 

Three persons including a man, his 6-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son have been killed following a shooting incident near the Kadewatta Junction in Middeniya.

The Police said that a group of unidentified individuals had opened fire at a 39-year-old resident of Galpotta who was travelling on a motorcycle with his son and daughter at around 10.15 p.m. on Tuesday (18). The motorcycle rider was killed on the spot while his son and daughter were admitted to the District General Hospital, Embilipitiya, and the Tangalle Base Hospital, respectively, with critical injuries. 

However, the victim’s six-year-old daughter had succumbed to injuries shortly after receiving treatment at the Tangalle Hospital and the victim’s nine-year-old son too had also succumbed to gunshot injuries while receiving treatment at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Police suspect that a Type-56 assault rifle had been used to carry out the shooting. 

The target of the shooting has been identified as Aruna Vidanagamage, known by the alias ‘Kajja’, who was allegedly involved in multiple crimes. Vidanagamage was a member of an organised crime gang. Initial investigations have revealed that the deceased’s wife is currently overseas, and that he was residing with his two children.