Underworld figure Gonakovile Raja believed to be connected to a number of crimes including murders and drug smuggling has been killed in a shootout with Police today (07) morning in Minuwangoda. The suspect was at a house in Ballapana, Minuwangoda when the incident took place.
According to the Police, Raja had worked as a shooter and hired killer for underworld figure Kudu Anju operating from Dubai. He had recently reportedly threatened to kill ASP Mount Lavinia and his family.
He is connected to a number of murders, including that of an Uncle of Gonakovile Roha, father of Sri Lankan Cricketer Dananjaya Silve among many others. Police said he had used many aliases to commit these crimes.
Having received a tip that he was in the area, a team of officers from the Kelaniya Crimes Investigations Unit and the Peliyagoda Range Crimes unit had carried out a raid today morning (07).
Police said the suspect had shot at police when they attempted to arrest him. The team had returned fire and he later succumbed to his injuries at the Divulapitiya Hospital. Police recovered a weapon and an Indian passport from his possession. Police are carrying out further investigations into the incident.
