‘Ukkuwa’ shot dead

A 38-year-old underworld kingpin Jayaweera Patabendige Indika Nilusha alias Ukkuwa has been killed by an unidentified group of people in Tangalle, this morning (26), the police said.

Two other persons, who were injured during the clash, have also been admitted to the Tangalle hospital, the police added.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said the three gangsters earlier arrested in connection with a killing and had been granted bail last month.

Ukkuwa was alleged to have been involved in a string of crimes including drug trafficking, murders, and taking sexual advantage of female tourists.

He said they were on their way back in a trishaw after reporting to the Tangalle Police when some unidentified men who had arrived in a car had fired at them at Pallikudah in Tangalle.