“We are puzzled by this latest turn of events in Colombo because so far it has been relatively calm and even the level of violence in other areas has been very low”, said Keerthi Tennakoon, head of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE).
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“We will not leave room for retarding our efforts to establish a civilized political culture in Sri Lanka by this type of uncivilized incidents”.
A Sri Lankan police officer stands guard near a victim injured in…
Machine gun-wielding masked gunmen sprayed bullets at supporters in an act of political terror killing at least one person, when he was canvassing for votes at upcoming polls in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.
“The gunmen traveled in two vehicles and escaped in the same vehicles after the shooting spree”, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera told AFP.
Speaking at a media briefing after the Kotahena attack, Karunanayake had said that the incident could lead to a bigger attack on the UPFA which could later be used to claim that it was the work of the LTTE. But an opposition politician in Rajapaksa’s party said the shooting was the result of gang warfare.
Police said they suspected that two cars were involved in the incident.
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Colombo National Hospital director Dr. Anil Jasinghe said one woman was brought dead to the hospital and 13 people are being treated for gunshot wounds. If he wins, he will be a step away from reclaiming the presidency.
