By Jayantha Nanayakkara  

A member of an underworld gang suspected of several murders and shootings in Minuwangoda  was killed in a police shooting at Welikadayaya in Embilipitiya on Saturday (24).  
He was killed in exchange of fire during an encounter with the STF.  

Police said the deceased Handunnettige Ganidu Sandamini Mendis (22) from Tissamaharama was a former soldier of the army special force and a close confidante of drug trafficker and wanted criminal Heenatiyana Mahesh alias Nuresh Supun operating the racket from abroad. 

 
Investigations revealed that he had been wanted in connection with a murder in Katunayake in February last year, a recent murder in Minuwangoda, the triple murder in Gamangedara and a shooting of the Deputy Principal of a school in Ambangoda.  

The Colombo Special Operations Unit of the STF had carried out the raid to arrest him on information that he was hiding at his brother’s house in Welikadayaya in Embilipitiya.   The suspect who received serious injuries in the shooting died on admission to Embilipitiya General hospital. A police officer who received injuries in the exchange of fire was also admitted to hospital.  

A police team including officers of Embilipitiya police are conducting further investigations.  

• Revealed that he had been wanted in connection with a murder in Katunayake in February last year