Police believe the killing of the mother of the underworld figure known as ‘Backhoe Saman’ was carried out in retaliation for the murder of another organised crime figure, Ganemulla Sanjeewa.

The woman was shot outside a house at Ulahitiyawa in Middeniya on Wednesday evening by two men who arrived on a motorcycle and fled. She was taken to Middeniya Hospital by residents and died of her injuries.

Investigators suspect the gunmen and the weapon were supplied by a faction linked to a figure known as ‘Karandeniya Sudda’, who is believed to be hiding overseas, Ada Derana and Hiru News reported.

The motorcycle recovered

The motorcycle allegedly used in the attack has been found abandoned in the Urubokka area, police said. It was recovered near a culvert after being left in a tea estate in the Dampahala Polwatta area along the Urubokka–Matara road. Urubokka Police recovered the vehicle acting on information received.

Ada Derana reported that a pistol-type firearm is suspected to have been used. Hiru News, citing police, described the weapon as a 9mm firearm and reported that the victim’s body bore seven gunshot wounds, with serious injuries to the chest.

The alleged chain of retaliation

‘Backhoe Saman’, named by police as Nirmala Prasanga — Hiru News gives the fuller name Nedungoda Nirmala Prasanna — is currently held at the Boossa high-security prison, according to Ada Derana. He was among nine high-risk inmates moved earlier this year to a high-security facility at Welisara set up for prisoners accused of running criminal networks from behind bars.

He was reportedly arrested in Indonesia along with a man known as ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’ after information that both had allegedly assisted in the killing of Ganemulla Sanjeewa. Police say he has also been accused in connection with the killings of a man known as ‘Kajjaa’ and his two children.

The suspected motive emerged over the course of Thursday. Ada Derana’s earlier report on the recovery of the motorcycle said the motive had not yet been established; its later report set out the retaliation theory. No arrests have been announced. Investigations are continuing.

Sources