Police have arrested a man wanted over a shooting and murder in the Minuwangoda Police Division, taking him into custody on Friday night with a quantity of crystal methamphetamine in his possession.
The suspect is alleged to have ridden the motorcycle that carried the gunmen to the scene, Ada Derana and Hiru News reported. Officers detained him in the Galoluwa area of Minuwangoda on the night of 21 August, acting on information received during the investigation.
Police seized 11 grams and 150 milligrams of “Ice”, or crystal methamphetamine, from him at the time of the arrest. Ada Derana identified him as a 35-year-old resident of the Minuwangoda area.
The killing
Hiru News reported that the victim was a 36-year-old three-wheeler driver, shot dead in the Minuwangoda area on 13 August 2025. Ada Derana gave the same date for the shooting.
Ada Derana’s report described the case as a “recent” shooting, though both outlets place the killing in August last year — a little over a year before the arrest.
Minuwangoda Police are continuing investigations. Neither outlet said whether the gunmen themselves have been identified or arrested, or whether the suspect has been produced before a court.
Police figures released in July recorded 21 shootings so far in 2026, in which 14 people were killed and 12 injured.
