Two young men were waiting near the Buddha statue on Grandpass Nagalagam Road. One of them was Nipuna Lakshitha, also known as Kotiya, and the other was Shan Ahmed. Both appeared nervous as they looked down the crowded road, waiting for someone to arrive.
“Dhanushka is not here yet. It’s dangerous to be out here. Dubai Nipuna’s people are everywhere. I ordered Pick Me ride just in case,” Nipuna Lakshitha told his companion.
“I didn’t have a penny, so I asked Dhanushka for some money. I met him at Welikada Prison. He’s a good guy. He has helped me a lot. Since he’s in the drug business, he always has money. He’ll give me money whenever I need it for a deal,” Nipuna Lakshitha praised his friend.
Nipuna Ahmed was shot…
At that moment, a scooter-type motorcycle sped toward them from the Inguru Kade junction and stopped near Nipuna Lakshitha and Shan Ahmed. Nipuna assumed it was Dhanushka arriving with money. However, what happened next was completely unexpected. The person on the back of the motorcycle immediately pointed a pistol at Nipuna and Ahmed and began firing shots rapidly.
Stunned by the sudden attack, Nipuna and Shan Ahmed ran frantically to save their lives. However, both were already struck by gunfire. The two underworld hitmen who carried out the attack quickly disappeared into the darkness.
Nipuna Lakshitha and Shan Ahmed, both seriously injured, were rushed to the Colombo National Hospital by nearby residents. Fortunately, neither sustained fatal injuries. However, both had undoubtedly experienced the terror of facing death.
By then, the underworld conflict centered around the Grandpass, Modara, Thotalanga, and Bloemendal areas had reached a boiling point. Nipuna Lakshitha (Kotiya) and Shan Ahmed were close associates of the notorious underworld figure known as Dubai Nipuna.
According to the police, this attack was ordered by Sedawatte Kasun and carried out by members of his underworld gang.
The Underworld Divided into Two Gangs
The criminal empire built around the Modara, Grandpass, Thotalanga, Bloemendal, and Kotahena areas was notorious for thugs like Dubai Nipuna, Rajamalwatte Chamara, Ruben, Lal, Sedawatte Kasun, and Welle Saranga. These individuals were once part of the same gang but later split into two separate factions after the arrival of the underworld figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa.
Following Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s entry, a group of thugs, including Rajamalwatte Chamara and Dubai Nipuna, allied themselves with him. Meanwhile, Sedawatte Kasun, Welle Saranga, Ruben, and Lal formed their own gang and continued their drug operations independently.
Conflicts began to emerge between these two factions due to their competing drug trade within the same underworld territory.
Welle Saranga’s Threats to Nipuna’s Associates…
Welle Saranga began making continuous phone threats to Dubai Nipuna’s associates, warning them not to interfere with his drug operations.
“Rajamalwatte Chamara and Dubai Nipuna are only giving you trouble. They will cut you off sooner or later. That’s why we are operating separately. Don’t interfere with our work or business…” Welle Saranga threatened them.
The Battle for Power Escalates…
The rivalry between these two gangs intensified when Sedawatte Kasun’s gang killed a cousin of Rajamalwatte Chamara to send a message. Furious over the murder, Rajamalwatte Chamara vowed to exact revenge.
They’ve poked the snake, and now they will see what happens. They don’t know what I’m capable of. I will send all of them to the afterlife,” Chamara declared furiously.
Rajamalwatte Chamara instructed his associates to attack a restaurant in Elakanda owned by Sedawatte Kasun. During this attack, an innocent 67-year-old security guard, who had only started work that day, was killed.
Enraged by the murder of the security guard, Sedawatte Kasun vowed to take revenge. He began planning to eliminate Nipuna Lakshitha alias Kotiya, who was allegedly involved in the attack on the restaurant.
Sedawatte Kasun’s Revenge…
Sedawatte Kasun believed the time had come to avenge the attack on his restaurant and the murder of the security guard. Learning that Dhanushka, a former associate, was now friends with Nipuna Lakshitha, Kasun decided to use Dhanushka to lure Kotiya to a vulnerable location.
“I met Kotiya in Welikada. He thinks I’m on Kasun’s side. He tells me everything. He’s desperate for money. I can set him up,” Dhanushka told Sedawatte Kasun.
Kasun hired two hitmen for the task, while two of his gang members were assigned to keep watch on Nipuna Lakshitha.
“The tiger is broke. He keeps calling me and asking for money. I’ll bring him to the spot. Kasun will take care of the rest,” Dhanushka informed Kasun over the phone.
Dhanushka managed to lure Kotiya to the Buddha statue on Grandpass Nagalagam Road, but the hitmen failed to complete their mission. Despite the deadly attack, Nipuna Lakshitha and Shan Ahmed managed to survive.
The Cycle of Violence Continues…
However, the intense rivalry between the Sedawatte Kasun gang and the Dubai Nipuna gang is far from over. Their followers continue to lose their lives fighting for these underworld bosses, who themselves live lavishly abroad in Dubai.
While these powerful thugs enjoy their freedom, their followers—who kill and die for a pittance—become mere pawns in the brutal underworld war. Until their followers realize the futility of their actions, the bloodshed is bound to continue.
