Police have arrested three primary suspects in connection with a fatal shooting at a child's birthday celebration in Wattala on July 23, with investigations suggesting the victim may have been killed in a case of mistaken identity.
Three individuals have been taken into custody following a deadly shooting at a birthday party held at a function hall in Kadirana, Wattala, on July 23. The suspects were arrested on July 7 after investigations conducted jointly by the Western Province North Crime Division and the Police Special Task Force.
According to police statements, the three arrested individuals include the alleged shooter, the driver of the vehicle from which shots were fired, and a third person accused of assisting the suspects in evading authorities after the incident. The suspects are reportedly aged 26, 35, and 36 years old, with residents from Jinthupitiya, Matale, and Kaduwela.
Investigations suggest the shooting was planned to target a suspected drug trafficker, but the gunman may have shot the wrong person. Police indicate the shooter appears to have missed the intended target and instead fatally wounded another man who was present at the birthday celebration. Four additional individuals, including two women, have also been arrested in connection with the incident, though their specific roles remain unclear from available information.
