Athurugiriya murder: Connection abroad to the shooting, infamous criminal being investigated
Multiple police squads are looking into the shooting incident that occurred during the day at Oruwala Junction in Athurugiriya. In the incident, two individuals, including businessman Surendra Wasantha Perera, also known as ‘Club Wasantha,’ lost their lives, while four others, including well-known singer K. Sujeewa, sustained injuries.
Authorities believe Kanjipani Imran, a notorious criminal with operations abroad, may have orchestrated the shooting. Reports stated that Kanjipani Imran, a trusted ally of the deceased ‘Makandure Madush,’ was behind the plot to shoot at Club Wasantha.
Nevertheless, Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa stated that inquiries are still being conducted to establish the reason behind the shooting.
CCTV cameras recorded the shooting incident and the getaway car used by the perpetrators.
Authorities stated that a pair of individuals, armed with T56 assault rifles, arrived in a vehicle and began shooting at a gathering at the opening of a Tattoo Studio on the second level of a two-story structure in Athurugiriya at approximately 10 a.m. this morning. Surendra Wasantha, together with his wife and K. Sujeewa, as well as Sujeewa’s two daughters, were among the attendees.
Over 60 unused bullet casings were found at the location, with some marked “KJI,” raising concerns about possible connections to Kanjipani Imran.
The vehicle involved in the shooting was discovered deserted the afternoon before in Korathota, Kaduwela, soon after the event occurred. CCTV footage showed that the gunmen left the car and fled in a van from the scene.
During the shooting incident, two individuals, one of them being 55-year-old ‘Surendra Wasantha,’ lost their lives, while four others, including singer K. Sujeewa and Club Wasantha’s spouse, were wounded.
The wounded were first taken to Homagama Hospital, and later singer Sujeewa and another man were moved to the National Hospital in Colombo for additional medical care. Hospital sources at the National Hospital reported that Sujeewa suffered severe gunshot injuries to her body.
