The shooter who shot and killed a 19-year-old youth named Kalutharapatabedige Nissanka Peiris at the Mount Lavinia Beach Road has been arrested by the Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Unit.

The motorcyclist who was riding the motorcycle to carry out the shooting was taken into custody while the motorcycle was buried behind a house in the Mabulgoda area of Kottawa before the shooter was arrested. In addition, the Crime Investigation Unit says that two people who helped the murder of the youth have also been arrested.

At the time of the shooter’s arrest, a locally made live hand grenade, 15 live 9mm bullets and two number plates were also taken into police custody.

The shooter who was arrested at Vihara Mawatha in Kottawa was an Air Force deserted soldier who served in the Air Force for one and a half years.

The Mount Lavinia Division Criminal Investigation Unit also stated that two individuals who aided and abetted the murder were arrested on May 10.