Probe reveals PHI was inadvertently shot instead of a police officer  

By Srinath Prasanna Jayasuriya  

Following the arrest of the gunman linked to the murder of Public Health Inspector (PHI) Deepal Roshan Kumara in Elpitiya last February, investigations revealed that the fatal shooting was a case of mistaken identity, as the slain PHI was inadvertently shot instead of a police officer in the area, police sources said.  

The arrest, made in Mount Lavinia, also led to the recovery of two firearms from the suspect.  

Based on the information revealed by the 51-year-old suspect, the police have found a MM type pistol, a magazine and ten live bullets, which are believed to have been used to shoot the PHI, hidden in the house in the Owita area .  

After killing the PHI, a husband and wife who allegedly provided the gunman with accommodation after committing the crime, were also arrested on suspicion, they said.  

A senior police officer said that a suspect who was arrested on suspicion of possessing 2,200 milligrams of heroin was detained and interrogated and had later admitted that he was a shooter in the underworld and had committed this crime.