SLPP MP, private bodyguard on their way home from TT killed

SJB demands MR’s arrest over Monday’s mayhem, Wimal wants Johnny, too, taken in  

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A group of unidentified persons yesterday (09) killed Polonnaruwa district SLPP lawmaker Amarakeerthi Atukorale and his private bodyguard in the Nittambuwa police area.

MP Atukorale and his bodyguard, carrying a small firearm, ran away while being pursued by a mob. Sources said that they had been stopped by the public who checked buses and vehicles, passing Nittambuwa, looking for some of those who had been involved in attacks on protesters at ‘Gota Go Home’ and ‘Mahinda Go Home’ protest sites.

First-time entrant to Parliament, at the August 2020 general election, Atukorale was the first lawmaker killed by a mob. The victim among the lawmakers present at Temple Trees function chaired by the then Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sources said that there had been a shooting at Nittambuwa where the public stopped vehicles passing the area. Six persons, who had been wounded, were admitted to the Wathupitiwela hospital. Sources said that the possibility of the MP’s guard opening fire at the crowd couldn’t be ruled out.

MP Udaya Gammanpila said that violence could have been easily avoided if Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa had announced his resignation earlier.

Addressing a hastily arranged media briefing the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) Ranjith Madduma Bandara demanded the immediate arrest of former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa whereas National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said that his colleague Johnston Fernando, too, should be arrested as the latter had incited violence.