3 sources·Updated Feb 14, 2026

Police Link Organised Criminal to Double Murder

Police say the fatal shooting of Attorney-at-Law Buddhika Mallawarachchi and his wife in the Akuregoda Thalangama area was allegedly carried out by an organised criminal known as Karandeniya Sudda.According to investigators, the attorney had previously appeared in court in connection with cases involving the suspected underworld figure.The shooting took place at around 4:50 p.m. last evening (13) at a parking lot of a supermarket in the Akuregoda.Police say, a group of assailants arrived in a motor vehicle opened fire before fleeing the scene.Authorities confirmed that a T-56 assault rifle and a pistol were used to carry out the attack.The victims were identified as a 44-year-old attorney and his 42-year-old wife, both residents of Athurugiriya.Following the magistrate's inspection, the bodies were transferred to the mortuary of the Colombo National Hospital for post-mortem examinations.Meanwhile, acting on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police, ten investigative teams have been deployed to probe the incident.The teams include officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, the Special Task Force, the Colombo Crimes Division, and the Terrorism Investigation Division.