In court, a man dressed as a lawyer murders a gang leader

In court, a man dressed as a lawyer murders a gang leader. 
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Men in camouflage uniforms with weapons in front of a court's metal . A hollowed-out book was reportedly used to sneak in the firearm that was used to shoot the defendant. According to authorities, a known gang leader was shot and killed inside a Sri Lankan courthouse by a shooter posing as a lawyer. According to police, the shooter used a pistol that a female suspect—who is still at large—smuggled in a hollowed-out book. When he was shot, gang boss Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne was being led to court to appear in person. He was a suspect in several murder cases, according to the police. The shooting in the nation's capital, Colombo, is one of several murders committed by competing gangs, which have continued despite government promises to combat gang violence nationwide. Since his capture in September 2023, the gang leader, also known as Ganemulle Sanjeewa, has been detained. Twelve police officers reportedly led him to the courthouse on Wednesday. After being shot, he was brought to the hospital, but upon arrival, they declared him dead. Although the gunman was able to escape, authorities eventually apprehended him. Authorities and local media have given him different identities, but police claim he went under multiple names. The female suspect has been named by police as Pinpura Dewage Ishara Sewwandi, 25. A sign has been posted by authorities offering a reward to anyone who comes forward with information on the female. A police officer and van driver who were allegedly involved in the shooting with the two suspects have also been taken into custody, according to the police. An opposition MP referred to gang violence as a "major security issue" during Wednesday's parliamentary discussion on gang violence control. Nalinda Jayatissa, the minister of health and mass media, said on Wednesday that the government would "take the actions of organised underworld gangs seriously." Jayatissa had promised in December to crack down on such criminal activity. Authorities are currently examining security procedures in the courthouse in response to the event, which has also sparked concerns about security. Following the shooting, new security measures are being put in place, such as sending armed guards to court when specific individuals are hauled before the court. Generally speaking, armed security guards are not permitted inside court," Harshana Nanayakkara, the justice minister, stated on Thursday. According to police data cited by AFP, gang rivalry has been blamed for a string of shootings that have claimed the lives of at least nine people this year.

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