On one recent night, a gang leader well known to the police had thrown a hand grenade at a leader of another rival gang near the Pinwatte junction.
Fortunately the grenade did not explode. The police summoned the army bomb disposal unit at about 10.00 p.m. on Wednesday September 01 and the foreign made grenade defused.
The law abiding citizens cower in fear as armed members of the two rival gangs freely move about on public roads. They are seen carrying pistols. However, Panadura police acting Headquarters Inspector Chief Inspector Illangakoon has arrested a gangster from the area called Thola alias Kumara who is alleged to have attacked a club at Morontuduwa Road, Wadduwa and robbed cash Rs.16,500/-.
The Buddhist shrine room constructed by the Road Development Authority near the Pinwatte public cemetery was burnt down and destroyed by an unidentified gang two weeks ago. Pinwatte police had not taken action to arrest the suspects. The Pinwatte police post is manned by 15 policemen and an OIC.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2004/09/16/Rural/04.asp)
