Claim: The woman, who allegedly provided the firearm to the gunman who shot dead gangster Ganemulla Sanjeewa in the Hulftsdorp court premises, has been arrested.
Fact: While police have detained close associates of the woman suspect, Ishara Sewwandi, she is still at large.
Several social media users have been claiming that the woman suspect in the sensational Ganemulla Sanjeewa murder case has been arrested. On February 19, 2025, gangster Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, also known as Ganemulla Sanjeewa, was shot dead inside the Hulftsdorp/Althukade No. 05 Magistrate’s Court in Colombo by a person disguised as a lawyer. The police have informed that two people were later caught — the gunman and the driver of the van used to flee the scene.
The CCTV footage of the incident, however, also showed a woman, disguised as a lawyer, fleeing the court premises along with the main accused. Various claims have been circulating on social media about the woman, including posts that she, too, has been caught by the authorities. However, the claim was found to be false. A few claims can be found here, here, and here.
Fact Check/Verification
Newschecker first conducted a keyword search, which led us to several reports that revealed that the woman in question was a 25-year-old named Ishara Sewwandi, a resident of Katuwellegama, Negombo, and that she is suspected of having provided the revolver to the gunman by smuggling it in a hollowed-out book. Such news reports can be found here and here.
However, we found no relevant media reports informing of Sewwandi’s arrest. The press release by the Sri Lankan police stated that the woman “will also be arrested in a short period of time.”
The Sri Lanka Police on February 23 publicly shared more information about Sewwandi, including photos, her national identity card number, and address, requesting information about her.
On February 24, the police shared two more photos to the media as seen in news reports such as this and this:
On February 25, two more updates were released about this woman. The police have so far arrested her mother and brother. News reports such as this and this specify the update.
A press release on the Sri Lanka Police website confirms this update.
Speaking at a press briefing on February 24, Sri Lanka Police spokesperson SSP Buddhika Manathunga confirmed that special security measures have been implemented at locations from where authorities believe the suspect may attempt to flee the country. He said that they have information to believe that Sewwandi has not yet fled the country.
Moreover, the Facebook page of the Sri Lanka Police has been regularly posting about this woman and her photos, requesting any member of the public to provide information about her.
Post on February 20 | Post on February 24
She also remains on the list of Most Wanted people on the Sri Lanka Police website.
Conclusion
The viral claim that the woman who helped the gunman of gang leader Ganemulla Sanjeewa has been caught was found to be false. While people related to this woman have been detained, there is currently no information about her whereabouts and she is still at large.
Result: False
Our Sources
CCTV footage of the shooting as posted on the AdaDerana YouTube channel, February 20, 2024
News report of the arrest of the shooter and the van driver, Sri Lanka Police website, February 21, 2025
News report with the details of the woman, BBC Sinhala, February 21, 2025
News report with the details of the woman, Daily Mirror LK, February 21, 2025
News report requesting the public to supply more information about the woman, Sri Lanka Police website, February 20, 2025
Post requesting the public to supply more information about the woman, Facebook account of the Sri Lanka Police, February 20, 2025
News report stating that the woman’s mother and brother have been arrested, DailyNews LK, February 24, 2025
Press release stating that the woman’s mother and brother have been arrested, Sri Lanka Police website, February 24, 2025
SSP Buddhika Manathunga’s statement to the media about the woman not having fled the country, Ada Derana LK, February 24, 2025
Post requesting the public to supply more information about the woman, Facebook account of the Sri Lanka Police, February 24, 2025
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