Gangster killed in fight with police at Ambalangoda

Rafik Jalaldeen

AMBALANGODA: An underworld gangster was shot dead and another wounded in a fire fight between a police and a two member gang in the Ambalangoda town in the wee hours of yesterday.

A police officer was seriously injured in the incident, Ambalangoda HQIC Upali Nilmini Ariyaratne said.

According to Ariyaratne a police mobile on route patrol noticed two persons moving in suspicious manner on a motorcycle with their faces covered in black helmets. When the police patrol approached them for a check, the suspects opened fire at the police officers. Police fired back.

The injured police officer was admitted to the Balapitiya Hospital. The injured gang member was taken to the Karapitiya Hospital. Police also recovered a T56 rifle used by the gang.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the two men on the motorcycle were members of an underworld gang who were waiting to ambush another underworld gangster. It is suspected that the gang was involved in many criminal activities in Karandeniya area", he added.

The dead gang member has been identified as Sisira Priyantha (24) from Karandeniya while the injured member is J. Kumara Silva (25) from Ampe.

Ambalangoda police is conducting investigations.