A key suspect in the recent triple murder at Middeniya has been arrested in India and repatriated to Sri Lanka by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Sri Lanka Police stated that the arrested individual is believed to be the motorcyclist involved in the fatal shooting on 18 February near Kadewatta Junction, Middeniya. The attack targeted a man travelling with his two children.

The intended victim, identified as “Kajja”, was shot dead at the scene. His six-year-old daughter died shortly after being admitted to the Tangalle Hospital, and his nine-year-old son succumbed to his injuries the following day.

Investigations reveal that the murder was reportedly carried out as revenge for stealing a parcel of cannabis belonging to a notorious drug trafficker known as “Backhoe Saman”. The gunman, arrested alongside nine others, has confessed to executing the attack on a contract from Backhoe Saman, citing personal debt as the motive.