The serene town of Ambalangoda was violently disrupted when Hinidumage Dhammika Niroshan, a former under-19 cricket team captain, was fatally shot in his own neighbourhood. Hinidumage Dhammika Niroshan, fondly referred to as ‘Jonty,’ was only 41 years old at the time of his tragic death.
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on July 16 in the Kandamavata area of Ambalangoda.
Reports indicate that Niroshan was preparing to visit a local funeral home when he was ambushed by three masked assailants armed with a locally made twelve-bore firearm.
The attackers fired multiple shots, striking Niroshan in the neck and abdomen before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle.
Niroshang’s wife also narrowly escaped
Niroshan’s wife, who was standing nearby, managed to avoid injury when unknown attackers tried to target her.
She quickly took cover inside their home, which resulted in her escaping unharmed. According to preliminary investigations, it was revealed that unidentified individuals had been closely surveilling Niroshan’s residence in the days leading up to the incident.
An underworld relationship
“The Public Security Minister, Tiran Alas, has officially confirmed the apprehension of a suspect believed to be linked to the homicide.
The said suspect has supposedly disclosed crucial information connecting the death of Niroshan to his ties with Kosgoda Sujee, a notorious underworld figure who is currently located in Dubai.
According to the minister, Niroshan had previously received explicit threats due to his purported involvement with Sujee’s criminal syndicate.”
Niroshan is a very talented fast bowler
Niroshan, a distinguished alumnus of Devananda College in Ambalangoda, played a significant role in the landscape of Sri Lankan cricket.
Notably, he served as the captain of the under-19 team in 2002 and had the honour of representing Sri Lanka in a wide array of international matches.
Apart from his exceptional cricketing accomplishments, Niroshan also made valuable contributions to the development and coaching of police cricket teams, leaving an indelible mark on the sport within and beyond the boundaries of competitive cricket.
According to current information, the shooting incident is suspected to be connected to long-standing disputes within the criminal underworld.
Reports from intelligence sources suggest that Niroshan’s involvement in certain activities and associations may have put him at risk of being targeted by rival criminal factions.
The people of the area are in mourning
The investigation into the matter is being spearheaded by the Ambalangoda Police in collaboration with the Elpitiya Special Crime Investigation Unit and the Police Special Task Force.
The case was presented before Balapitiya Magistrate R.D. Janaka, who mandated a thorough post-mortem examination and instructed the police to expedite identifying and apprehending all individuals involved in the incident.
“As the local community grapples with the heartbreaking loss of a revered sports figure, law enforcement authorities are ramping up their investigative endeavours to ensure that those accountable for this senseless crime are apprehended and brought to justice.”
