(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A local politician in the main opposition United National Party (UNP) was shot in the head by an unidentified gunman when UNP supporters were celebrating the crossover of ministers and parliamentarians from the ruling party.
Unidentified men in a vehicle drove by and shot Chamila Ranasinghe a former UNP local councilor during the celebrations in Beruwela some 50km from capital Colombo.
Ranasinghe survived the attack but remains in critical condition at the hospital said the police.
The Friday night incident shootout was the first in this term’s presidential elections scheduled to be held on January 8. Past elections in Sri Lanka have been dotted with violent incidents and shootings with many lives lost.
Meanwhile in a separate incident on Friday a man was injured in a clash when a vehicle convoy of the UNP was attacked in Kurunegala allegedly by ruling party supporters. Several vehicles have been damaged in the melee the police spokesman said.
The clashes came after the ruling party general secretary and health minister crossed over to a common opposition announcing his intent to contest against President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the upcoming presidential elections.
Several other government ministers and lawmakers also crossed over to the opposition on Friday severing a blow to President Rajapaksa who has called for an early presidential election two years before the end of his term.
President Rajapaksa who has been accused of corruption and nepotism has been criticised for running for a third term. -newskhaleejtimes.com
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