An ex-Army soldier suspected of involvement in four murders, including the shooting of a former prison officer in Bandaragama and two youths in Borella, has been arrested by the Police Special Task Force (STF).

Police said intelligence revealed that the suspect was responsible for four fatal shootings committed in August alone.

The STF’s Joint Special Operations Unit at the Jayewardenepura camp had received information that the gunman involved in the 7 August Borella Sirisara Uyana double murder was hiding in Siyambalanduwa, Ampara. The suspect was subsequently arrested on Friday (12).

Further investigations revealed that he was also the shooter in the 21 August killing of former prison officer Lalith Kodagoda near the Thunbodhiya Bridge in Bandaragama.

Police also suspect his involvement in the 27 August murder of the uncle of an underworld figure known as “Kudu Nilanga” in Alubogahawatta, Panadura South.

All three shootings were carried out using a T-56 assault rifle, police confirmed.

In total, the suspect is believed to have killed four people in three separate incidents in August. During the arrest, officers also found over 10 grams of crystal meth (“ice”) in his possession.

Police said the suspect, who was discharged from the Army in 2015, has close ties with notorious criminals including “Kudu Salindu,” “Dehigahalanda Aiya,” “Dehigahalanda Malli,” and “Weligama Sahan,” and is suspected to have worked as a contract killer for them.

The suspect has been handed over to the police for further investigations.