Fourth person dies after shootout during Sri Lanka elections

[News_Editor]

Fourth person dies after shootout during Sri Lanka elections

2011-10-11 03:15:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (BNO NEWS) -- A fourth person has died after Saturday's shootout which broke out during local elections in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, officials said on Monday.

The shooting occurred on Saturday at around 3:30 p.m. local time near the IDH junction in the Mulleriyawa area of Sri Lanka's Colombo District and involved two political groups supporting former Parliamentarian and Presidential Adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and Parliamentarian Duminda Silva.

According to health officials at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Colombo National Hospital, the fourth victim, who was identified as Manimel Kumarassamy and was receiving medical treatment, succumbed to his wounds at the hospital on Monday morning, Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper reported.

Among the three other victims who died during the shootout was Presidential Adviser Premachandra, whose funeral is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the Umagiliya Grounds in Kolonnawa. High security measures are expected to be taken during the funeral ceremonies. Meanwhile, Parliamentarian Silva was reportedly in a delicate health condition after suffering head injuries during the shootout. Both are members from Sri Lanka's United People's Freedom Alliance ruling party

The other two fatal victims were identified as 45-year-old Damitha Jayasekara and 32-year-old Mohammed Aseem, both residents of Kollonnawa and supporters of Premachandra. In addition, two police officers and one civilian are currently under treatment at the Colombo National Hospital. One of the policemen is from the Ministerial Security Division.

It remains unclear what exactly led to the shooting, but Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered an immediate investigation. Despite the violence breaking out before the polls closed, the United People's Freedom Alliance won local elections with 21 of the 23 local bodies.

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