Mahinda Godage alias ‘Bada Mahinda’ said to be a leader of the underworld and accused of a number of crimes including murder, extortion and abductions was shot down by police at Ambuldeniya, Nugegoda yesterday (16th). According to police he was accused of murdering Sanjeewa, a leader of the underworld as well as the former police officer of the Presidential Security Service and shooting at the residence of late Mr. Lasanthe Wickrematunga, Editor of Sunday Leader in 1998.
On information received by the operations room of the IGP that a suspicious armed gang was travelling in a vehicle the special crime operations unit of the Western Province (South) deployed an instant road block at Embuldeniya Junction at Nugegoda at 2.30 a.m. However, a black coloured Hyundai car despite police warning had driven past the road block.
The police had pursued the vehicle when it had jumped out of the road, crashed onto a tree and stopped. Three people had jumped out of the car and had started shooting at the police. The police had retaliated. However, the three people had fled and police had found another injured in the vehicle. He had died when he was being taken to the hospital. Police found an identity card with the name Siriwardenege Don Priyanthe Ajith when a purse found at the person was examined. Later his wife identified him as Mahinda Godage alias ‘Bada Mahinda.’
A T-56 rifle and 21 cartridges have been found in the vehicle travelled by ‘Bada Mahinda.’ The police found that the number plate of the vehicle had the registered number of a hand tractor. They suspect the car would have been stolen from somebody.
‘Bada Mahinda’ was a very close associate of underworld chief Dhammika Amarasinghe. Investigations have revealed that it was Dhammike Amarasinghe and Bada Mahinda who murdered Baddegana Sanjeewa while travelling in his jeep. ‘Bada Mahinda’ committed murders of two persons at Wellampitiya, killing of three persons at Kaduweela and another killing at Mt. Lavinia say police. He has been accused of stealing vehicles, extortion, encroachment of lands and carrying out contract murders.
Lanka Truth
