Gangster shot dead in court room

A gangster in the middle of a high-profile investigation into an immigration offence by Sri Lanka's Cricket and Telecom chief was yesterday shot dead in a court room by an army deserter who was later overpowered and arrested by police.

The shooting of Dhammika Amarasinghe at point-blank range in a packed magistrate's court at the Hulftsdorp Hill complex was witnessed by the horrified judge, lawyers and witnesses who were present.

Amarasinghe, in prison custody at the time on murder charges was in court for another one of his contract killings when the incident occured.

The assassin, who had come to court dressed as a law student was seen pulling out a revolver strapped to his ankle and pumped several bullets into Amarasinghe.

He later tried to grab a hostage from among those inside the court but was overpowered by a policeman on duty.

The assassin claimed that he was avenging the murder of one of his (cousin) "brothers" – Baddegana Sanjeeva, a one-time bodyguard of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Sanjeeva was killed on the eve of the 2001 elections by some of his one-time colleagues, including Amarasinghe who were supporting President Kumaratunga but whose pay-masters turned against her due to differences.

Initial inquires however did not point to the assassin being a close relative of Sanjeeva triggering speculation that the murder was linked to the case against the Cricket chief.

Tit-for-tat slayings having been going-on in recent years among gang-members of Colombo's intricate underworld, whose support is commissioned by the country's leading politicians.