Udaya Shantha Pathirana alias Ranale Samayan was noticed by the country when he was shot at the premises of Kaduwela Court in September 23, 2015. He managed to escape death but suffered severe wounds. However, Samayan knew that he would be killed soon.
Samayan was gunned down yesterday following a prolonged dispute with a fellow drug lord identified as Angoda Lokka.
Samayan was arrested before, but after his release in October 2015 he used a newspaper to confess about what transpired and his wish to bid adieu to the drug world.
When the journalist asked him about his first police arrest in 2007 Samayan said this changed his life.
“I was arrested for staying with a group who had firearms. Police placed a bomb and detained me. That is how my life started to change.” he said.
Samayan went on to explain that he was assaulted by the police for three months till he feared for his life.
“I remembered my mother. She is still limping because she fell when she came to visit me and hurt her leg. The bomb placed by police brought me to this situation. I will not be in the place I am in if not for that,” he added.