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5 police teams probing shooting of Mt. Lavinia councillor
Five police teams are probing the murder of Dehiwela-Mount. Lavinia Municipal Councillor K. Ranjan Silva in Ratmalana. These include four police teams from the Mount. Lavinia Police and another appointed on instructions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Police are examining CCTV footage from homes and businesses close to the scene of the shooting,before and after the incident to identify any suspicious persons or vehicles.
Meanwhile, an eyewitness has reportedly told police that the gunman, who had arrived in a vehicle had alighted and walked some 30 metres towards the victim’s house before opening fire on him and two others who were seated outside in the gardenabout 8.30 p.m. on Thursday (24).
Mr. Silva (62), father of Sri Lankan cricketer Dhananjaya De Silva, was pronounced dead in hospital. Police said he had sustained around 12 bullet wounds in his body. The other two are receiving treatment in hospital.
A senior police officer told the Sunday Times yesterday that they are still to ascertain the motive for the shooting. Mr Silva’s family had told police that they had received threats from drug dealers in the area. Police have also been notified of a Facebook account allegedly operated from overseas that levelled threats directed at Mr Silva and his family. The officer further said given Mr Silva’s position as a municipal councillor, the possibility that political rivalry may have played a part in the shooting has also not been ruled out.
No arrests had been made up to last night.