Police have recovered a pistol concealed beneath a grave in a public cemetery at Ganemulla, after questioning the organised crime figure Ranjith Kumara, known as “Konda Ranji”.
The Western Province North Crimes Division recovered the weapon after the suspect pointed it out, Hiru News reported. It had been hidden under a grave in the Bollathe public cemetery, within the Ganemulla police division. NewsFirst reported the recovery from a cemetery in the Ganemulla area without naming it.
What the weapon was for — the accounts differ
This is the substantive split between the two reports, and it is not a matter of wording.
NewsFirst says police revealed the firearm “had been prepared for use in a crime” — a weapon cached for a killing not yet carried out.
Hiru News says the pistol was used in the “Minuwangoda Tokka” murder, and that during questioning Konda Ranji confessed it had been handed to him by the alleged organised crime figure “Rathgama Vidura” to commit the murder.
Those are different claims about the same object: a weapon awaiting a crime, or a weapon recovered after one. Only Hiru ties it to a specific killing or names a second figure. Neither outlet acknowledges the other’s version, and LankaNewz reports both without resolving between them.
The outlets also describe the weapon differently — NewsFirst calls it a micro pistol, Hiru an automatic pistol.
The man being questioned
Konda Ranji is being held by the Western Province North Crimes Division. Hiru describes him as an alleged drug trafficker and organised criminal extradited to Sri Lanka after being arrested in Dubai under an Interpol Red Notice.
Our own records fill in that sequence. Ranjith Kumara was taken into custody by the CID on arrival at Katunayake on 9 September, after eight months in Dubai custody — he had been detained there on 9 January 2026 while allegedly attempting to flee to Italy. He was handed to the Western Province North Crimes Division the same evening, which is the unit now questioning him.
Police alleged at that time that he had been a key associate of the slain organised crime figure “Ganemulla Sanjeewa”, that he was accused of involvement in assaults, intimidation and several shooting incidents targeting residential properties, and that he had previously been arrested on 12 separate occasions. He is also wanted over the murder of the coordinating secretary to former minister Mangala Samaraweera.
The second name
“Rathgama Vidura” is already on the record in Sri Lankan asset-seizure proceedings. He is Pubudumuni Vidura Lakshanda Soysa Wijesinghe, and in July the Illegal Assets Investigation Division froze about Rs. 150 million in real estate linked to him amid allegations covering 16 murders and drug trafficking. He was named again in a wider inquiry into 25 organised crime figures in August.
Hiru’s account places him as the supplier of the weapon, not as a suspect in its recovery. No outlet reports whether he is in custody or whether he has responded to the claim.
Three suspects still sought
Police are seeking public assistance to arrest three suspects, including a woman, in connection with the incident, NewsFirst reported, and have asked anyone with information to contact the nearest police station or the Western Province North Crimes Division.
NewsFirst adds that a T-56 assault rifle was also recovered in connection with the same matter recently. Neither outlet says where that weapon was found or when.
Not reported
Neither outlet identifies the “Minuwangoda Tokka” victim, gives a date for that killing, names the three suspects still wanted, or says what charges Konda Ranji now faces. Neither explains how long the pistol had been beneath the grave, whether it has been sent for ballistic testing, or whether cemetery staff are being questioned. No court date is reported.
