Crime wave: Killings undertaken for Rs. 400,000-500,000 financial charges
- CNL Reporter
- August 6, 2025
- News
- Crime wave
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In the wake of the recent killing linked to gang rivalry and drug trafficking, the police found that murder contracts had been undertaken for financial charges merely ranging from Rs.. 400,000-500,000, indicating how low organized criminals have stooped when caring for the value of human lives.
Police investigations into recent killings in broad daylight have uncovered that there are persons used as brokers to execute financial transactions discreetly at secret, pre-arranged spots for hired killers. Criminal brokers are involved in arranging even logistics such as the supply of weapons and vehicles to killer groups in a clandestine manner.
A top police source said these individuals carry out information-gathering on their targets to be conveyed to shooters. In what appeared to be even more heinous, some killings have been carried out for a packet of narcotics for a day’s use of the shooters concerned, instead of any cash payment. The police source said there were instances in which even the total payment, initially agreed upon, was not paid to the perpetrators of crimes.
One of the most high-profile cases occurred in February 2025 in Middeniya, where underworld figure Aruna “Kajja” Vidanagamage and his two children were shot dead. Investigations revealed it was a contract killing arranged for Rs. 500,000, with Rs. 250,000 transferred in advance from overseas.
In another shocking incident, a gunman disguised as a lawyer assassinated an underworld rival inside the Colombo courtroom. According to the investigations, the shooter reportedly accepted a Rs. 15 million contract for the hit but was only paid Rs. 200,000 upfront.
In response to growing public concern, Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry has launched a coordinated operation to arrest military deserters, many of whom are suspected of involvement in recent shootings.
Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha announced earlier this year that the military and police had been instructed to detain deserters suspected of offering their combat expertise to criminal gangs. Between February and May 2025, authorities arrested nearly 3,000 deserters—over 2,200 from the Army, along with dozens from the Navy and Air Force. Several of those apprehended were directly linked to murders and shootings.
This crackdown follows a marked rise in violent crime across the country.
According to police data, 76 shooting incidents have been reported across the country so far in 2025, resulting in 41 deaths and 43 injuries.
The latest suspected contract killing was reported last week in the Kosgoda area, where a 23-year-old man was shot dead in Doowamodera.
The attack was allegedly carried out by two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle. Preliminary investigations revealed that a T-56 assault rifle was used. The victim, Aruth Mendis, was identified as the son of the owner of a local turtle conservation centre.
Police now fear the possibility of retaliatory violence in the wake of the killing.
