Leading underworld figure ‘Ratmalane Roha’ killed in police shootout

• Two accomplices of ‘Manna Ramesh’ arrested with firearms and ammunition

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and Tony Karunanayake   

Leading underworld figure Devmuni Rohana de Silva alias ‘Ratmalane Roha’ was shot dead during a shootout with the police, in the Kochchikade area, Negombo yesterday.  

Police said Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon received a tip off that ‘Ratmalane Roha’ was hiding in Kochcikade area to flee to India in a trawler.   

Acting on the information, a special team led by CI Nivunhella of the Peliyagoda Crimes Investigation Division deployed to arrest the suspect.   

At that time police tried to arrest the gangster, he had opened fire at the police team with T-56 weapon. The suspect was killed when police returned fire. 

 
Police recovered a T-56 weapon, a revolver, several mobile phones, SIM cards and 300,00 Indian rupees from the possession of the suspect. 

 
Police said the suspect was wanted by the police over drugs trafficking and several murders.   The 41-year-old suspect Roha was on bail over the murder of Mohamed Fakir at Keselwatte in 2002, murder of S. Ariyaratna at Mount Lavinia in 2007.