A 39-year-old man was killed after a shooting at a birthday party held at a reception hall near Kadirana Bridge in Palliyawatta, Wattala, on Wednesday night, police said.

The victim, identified as Sumedha from Borella, succumbed to his injuries after being admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.

According to police, the birthday celebration was hosted for the son of an alleged organised drug trafficker known as "Kudu Roshan". Investigators believe the intended target of the attack was Kudu Roshan.

However, police suspect that the gunmen mistakenly shot Sumedha, who was reportedly a close associate of the alleged target.

The black car believed to have been used by the suspects was later found abandoned in the Ja-Ela area.

Police suspect the shooting was linked to a long-running dispute between rival organised drug trafficking groups. Further investigations are underway.