A man was shot dead in the Duwamodara area of Kosgoda yesterday (31) morning in what appears to be a targeted attack. According to area police, two unidentified individuals arrived on a motorcycle around 6 am and opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle before fleeing the scene.
The victim has been identified as Arun Mendis, a 23-year-old unmarried male and the owner of a local turtle conservation centre. Authorities say Mendis was asleep inside his home when one of the assailants approached the property from the seaside and fired a shot through a window, fatally wounding him.
Investigators recovered the suspected motorcycle used in the crime near the Athuruwella Bridge on the Galle-Colombo main road, several kilometers from the crime scene. However, the motive behind the killing remains unclear, and police have not yet disclosed any details about potential suspects.
Kosgoda Police have launched a full investigation into the incident, with efforts underway to trace the assailants and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
by Norman Palihawadane 