Killers of political party leader, four others in Beliatte still at large

By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu

Five persons, including the General Secretary of the Ape Janabala Party, were killed by a group of unidentified gunmen near the Beliatta interchange of the Southern Expressway yesterday morning.

No arrests had been made at the time of going to press. The police said several teams of investigators had been deployed to arrest the gunmen, who were at large.

An investigator told The Island that the attack had been meticulously planned.

The victims were identified as General Secretary of the AJP, Saman Prasanna Perera of Rathgalgoda Watta, Hasitha Ranasinghe of Pahala Gangabada, Sameera Madhushanka of Polwatte-Warahena, Buddhika Rajapakshe of Gattuawana, Kurunegala, and Champriya Jayatilaka of Dematagoda, police said.

The victims had been on their way to appear before the Tangalle High Court when the vehicle they were travelling in came under fire around 8 am, police said.

Four of the victims died on the spot while the other was declared dead upon admission to the Tangalle Base hospital.

The assailants had used T-56 assault rifles, police said, adding that they had information that yesterday’s shooting was in revenge for the killing of three persons at Kudawella, in Tangalle, a few months ago.