By Hemantha Randunu, Lalith Chaminda, S.K. Kaluarachchi and Ravindra Chandralal

A suspect believed to be the mastermind behind the killing of five persons including Ape Janabala Pakshaya leader Saman Perera on Monday in Beliatte has told police that he carried out a contract for a Sri Lankan underworld leader based in Dubai.

The vehicle used by the assailants was found near Vidyaloka Pirivena, Galle, on Wednesday (24).

The suspected mastermind, Saman Kumara, has told the police that three others had joined him in killing the five victims, and they had used two T-56 assault rifles.

Kumara, a resident of Kamburupitiya, drove the vehicle carrying the assassins.

The police said they would be able to arrest the other three attackers soon.

SDIG, Southern Province, Sajeewa Medawatta, said the police had been able to arrest the mastermind of the attack within 24 hours of the incident.

The killings were ordered by Kosgoda Sujee, one of the underworld leaders from the South, according to the police. Sujee is hiding in Dubai.

One of the deceased, Saman Perera alias Royal Beach Saman was allegedly involved in the murder of the brother and uncle of Sujee in 2004. In 2016, another relative of Sujee was killed. On 05 June 2022 Asela Sampath, an associate of Sujee, was killed in the Kudawella Fisheries Harbour. Perera is believed to have been involved in that incident as well.

Sujee had tried to kill Perera several times, police said.

Saman Kumara, 54, was recently released from jail after being incarcerated for seven years