Police of the Western Province North Crimes Division yesterday (2 September) arrested a 36-year-old suspect in Delkanda over a plot to assassinate underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias ‘Harak Kata’, while he was being escorted to court from remand prison.

The suspect, a resident of Middeketiya and an employee of the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, had allegedly planned to infiltrate court premises disguised as a journalist. Police said he possessed a fake media identity card and had modified a camera to conceal a revolver, intending to use it to shoot Wickramaratne.

Investigations revealed that the plan was orchestrated under the instructions of underworld leader Kehelbaddara Padme, who is currently in custody. The arrest followed information provided by another notorious criminal, Backhoe Saman, who is being questioned by the Western Province North Range Crimes Division.

The suspect was reportedly a schoolmate of Backhoe Saman and was recruited for the mission. At the time of his arrest, police also seized 20 milligrams of heroin in his possession.

Although he initially denied involvement, during interrogation the suspect admitted to preparing the weapon. He disclosed that another associate of Kehelbaddara Padme, known as ‘Pas Deva’, had learned online how to conceal a revolver inside a camera and had guided the modification. The revolver, purchased in Kurunegala, was attached inside the camera with wiring to trigger the weapon.

However, the suspect later abandoned the assassination attempt out of fear. Two days before his arrest, he dismantled the camera, burned the fake media ID, and later showed police the site of the burnt remains. The revolver used in the modification has also been recovered.

The investigation continues under the supervision of Assistant Superintendent of Police Rohan Olugala, with a team led by Chief Inspector Linton Silva.