| Police and plain-clothed security personnel were out in strength at Friday’s funeral of a United National Party (UNP) supporter who was killed while on her way to an election rally in support of common opposition candidate, General Sarath Fonseka. The incident took place in Ranne, Tangalle. The rally was organised by UNP Member of Parliament, Sajith Premadasa.
Kusumawathi Kuruppuarachchi was travelling on a packed bus bound for the rally venue when two men on a motorcycle rode up and opened fire on the vehicle.
At least 25 police and 12 military-type vehicles were stationed at the scene of the funeral, which took place at Kekanadura, Matara.
Family members of the deceased had told the media that they did not want coverage of the funeral. A journalist attending the funeral told the Sunday Times that photography was not allowed, and that the funeral venue had been changed at the last moment.
DIG Gamini Navarathne, officer in charge of the police elections unit, told the Sunday Times that a special team was investigating, and that two persons had been arrested in connection with the killing. The two suspects had been hiding on a 10-acre coconut estate in Vitharanadeniya.
The Hungama police made the arrests based on information provided by eyewitnesses present at the shooting. One of the suspects has been identified as the son of a former Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha chairman, who is a member of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA). Live ammunition for T-56 rifle and the motorcycle used by the suspects have been recovered.
The suspects were produced in court on Thursday. Tangalle magistrate and additional district judge Bandula Hibure ordered that the suspects be remanded till January 22. An identification parade will be held at the next court hearing.
Both the opposition and the government have condemned the killing. Up to Friday, this was the first death reported in election-related violence in the run-up to the January 26 Presidential election.
In a statement, the government has said that the victim was a UPFA supporter.
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| The media was not allowed to photograph the funeral. These pictures were taken covertly by a funeral attendee, using a pen camera. |
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