Two people were killed after an unidentified gunman opened fire at a group of individuals who were consuming alcohol on the roof top of a restaurant in Delduwa, Ambalangoda on Sunday night.
According to the Police, the suspect had committed the crime using a T56 weapon during the power cut experienced in the area.
The attack is suspected to have been carried out in return to the murder of Wasantha Soyza, who was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen at Urawatta, Ambalangoda on July 26, 2022.
Wasantha was killed on the way back home after appearing in the Balapitiya Court for a hearing. He was accused of over the murder of Ajith Soyza alias ‘Buru Ajith’ at Parrot Junction in Ambalangoda on August 22, 2020. Wasantha Soyza was arrested by the Police Special Task Force (STF) in connection with this murder.
Following the murder of Wasantha Soyza, his gang carried out a shooting targeting the main suspect of the Wasantha’s murder Sujith Soyza while he was participating in a funeral on July 27.
However, Sujith Soyza managed to escape in the shooting while two others including Sujith’s Brother Vijith Soyza died on the spot.
Later, on August 19 Police arrested Sujith Soyza and another suspect while they were hiding in a house in Homagama along with the motorbike and the weapon used to kill Wasantha Soyza. A 64-year-old woman who provided shelter to these suspects was also arrested by the Police. “The shooting carried out at the restaurant in Ambalangoda on Sunday was aimed at Dhanushka Soyza, the son of Sujith Soyza’s brother, Police said. The shooters were able to kill Dhanushka on this occasion while the other person had died after he jumped in to the swimming pool on the ground floor to rescue Dhanushka Soyza when the shooting took place.
The deceased Dhanushka Soyza and Sandun Madhusanka were residents of Wenamulla, Ambalangoda. Although the Police had advised Danushka Soyza not to go out due to the death threats he had been receiving, he had ignored them,” Police said. “A dispute between two families is the reason behind this series of murders,” Police said.
“Wasantha’s faction is receiving the support from underworld kingpin Karandeniye Sudda and Podi Lasi to commit these murders, police said. A group of armed persons killing the husband, wife and their four-year-old child at Idanthota in Ambalangoda in 2016 also has a connection to this family dispute, police sources said. Karandeniye Sudda and Podi Lasi had killed this family over a contract given by Wasantha Soyza.