Police are investigating a grenade attack on a house on Sri Gnanendra Road in Ratmalana in the early hours of Wednesday, and are examining whether it is linked to an organised criminal group.
Two hand grenades were thrown at the property, police said. One detonated and the other landed in the garden without exploding. No injuries were reported. The blast damaged the house, shattering the glass panes of two windows.
CCTV footage recovered from the area shows two people believed to be connected to the attack fleeing the scene afterwards, according to an earlier police account.
Preliminary investigations identified the owner of the house as a cousin of Russell Aloysius Smith, who police believe is living overseas and who authorities allege has links to an organised criminal group. Police said they have also received information that Smith previously maintained close ties with alleged organised crime figures known by the aliases “Anju” and “Dharme,” and that he later fell out with Anju.
Investigators are continuing work to establish the motive and identify those responsible.
Update, August 9: Mount Lavinia Police have since arrested four suspects over the attack, detaining them on August 8 in the Moratuwa and Rathmalana areas. The four are aged 21, 26, 28 and 30. Police said preliminary investigations indicate the attack was carried out on the instructions of an organised criminal living overseas, and that a dispute between rival crime groups may have been the motive.
Police have not said whether they believe the occupants of the house were the intended target or whether the attack was directed at Smith through a relative. The allegations against Smith have not been tested in court, and he has not been charged in connection with Wednesday’s attack.
Sources: Ada Derana, Daily Mirror, Ada Derana.
