Piliyandala shooting: Suspect who purchased bike arrested

A 49-year-old man was arrested by the Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Unit in connection with the shooting in Piliyandala which killed a 11-year-old girl, a police officer and injured several others on May 9.

Police said the suspect was arrested at the Kekirawa bus stand last night. They said the suspect had purchased the motorcycle which used by the gunmen to carry out the shooting.

The suspect, a resident of Rambukkana is to be produced before the Kesbewa Magistrate Court today.

Police said the suspect was involved with several robberies across the country in 2009 and also has ongoing cases in Balapitiya and Homagama Magistrate Courts.

Earlier, the Police arrested several suspects in connection with the shooting on charges of aiding and abetting a suspect wanted for the shooting.

Police earlier had published sketches of two individuals to help identify suspects wanted in connection with the shooting.

According to the investigations, the suspects had purchased the motorcycle from Delgoda on the same day of the shooting.

Police Constable Chaminda Abeywickreme was killed while Police Inspector M. Neomal Rangajeewa and Constable Chaminda of the Police Narcotic Bureau were injured when two gunmen opened fire at them during a raid in Piliyandala on May 9.

Four civilians, including three children were also injured in the shootout. One of the injured, a 11-year-old girl, succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at the National Hospital in Colombo on May 19.(DS)

Video by Bimal Shaman Jayasinghe